Endeavour's Final Mission - Alan Taylor - In Focus - The Atlantic

Endeavour's Final Mission - Alan Taylor - In Focus - The Atlantic:

"NASA's space shuttle Endeavour completed its final mission this morning, touching down safely in Florida. Endeavour spent a total of 299 days in space, traveling more than 122.8 million miles during its 25 flights. Its first launch took place on May 7, 1992 -- its final launch on May 16, 2011. 'We want to thank all the tens of thousands of employees who have put their hands on this incredible ship,' shuttle commander Mark Kelly said moments before liftoff. Endeavour and its six-member crew delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2, the Express Logistics Carrier-3, and additional spare parts for the Dextre robotic helper to the International Space Station. Collected here are images from Endeavour's final trip as NASA prepares for to launch its final shuttle, scheduled for July 8th. [38 photos]"