Space shuttle Atlantis's STS-122 mission has successfully finished after it descended to a smooth landing at Kennedy Space Center, Florifa today.
Atlantis flew 5.3 million miles during its mission to install the European-built Columbus laboratory at the International Space Station. The mission lasted 12 days, 18 hours, 21 minutes and 55 seconds. Main gear touchdown occured on time at 9:07:20 a.m. EST. Wheels stop occured at 9:08:08 EST.
The return of Atlantis has cleared the way for the Navy to shoot down the dyfunct spy satellite US 193 which is on the verge of smashing into Earth with a load of 1,000 pounds toxic rocket fuel hydrazine. The missile could be launched as early as Wednesday night, from a warship in the Pacific.
Armed with two specially modified interceptor missiles, the USS Lake Erie has been tasked to intercept the satellite over the Pacific and shoot it down into the ocean, the officials said, adding that a cruiser, the Aegis, is already in waters off Hawaii.
The USS Decatur, a guided missile destroyer, is carrying a third interceptor missile in case the first two attempts fail, defense officials said.
AFP's full report below:
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