Space shuttle Atlantis returns to Earth

By Irene Klotz

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Space shuttle Atlantis touched down at its Florida home port on Friday, wrapping up an 11-day mission to deliver cargo to the International Space Station, one of NASA's final supply runs before the shuttle fleet is retired next year.

Gliding through clear, blue skies, commander Charles Hobaugh circled Atlantis high over the Kennedy Space Center to burn off speed, then nosed the 100-ton space plane toward a 3-mile (4.8-km) concrete runway framed by palm trees and marshlands.

"Couldn't have picked a clearer day," Hobaugh said as he caught sight of the runway.

Atlantis touched down at 9:44 a.m. EST, capping NASA's fifth and final flight of the year and the 129th mission in shuttle program history.

"That was a picture perfect end," astronaut Chris Ferguson radioed to the crew from Mission Control in Houston. "Everybody welcome back to Earth."

Just five shuttle missions remain to complete the $100 billion orbital outpost, a project of 16 nations that has been under construction 220 miles above Earth for 11 years.

"We're entering the golden era of the International Space Station program," station crew member Bob Thirsk, with the Canadian Space Agency, said during an inflight press conference this week.

NASA is building capsule-type spaceships to replace the shuttles, which are being retired due to safety concerns and high operating costs.