KSC-2010-3592

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Inside space shuttle Atlantis' crew compartment, a United Space Alliance employee closes the vehicle's hatch for towback from the Shuttle Landing Facility runway to Orbiter Processing Facility-1 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. After every shuttle landing, about 150 trained workers assist the crew out and then make the vehicle safe for towing atop a large diesel-driven tractor. Atlantis touched down on Runway 33 after 12 days in space, completing the 4.8-million mile STS-132 mission to the International Space Station. Inside the processing facility, Atlantis will be prepared for the unlikely event it is needed as a rescue spacecraft for the final planned shuttle flight, Endeavour's STS-134 mission. For more information, visit www.nasa.gov_shuttle. Photo credit: NASA_Troy Cryder