KSC-2009-6615

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-129 Mission Specialist Leland Melvin gives the camera a thumbs up following the landing of space shuttle Atlantis, concluding his successful 11-day mission. In the background, fellow crewmate Randy Bresnik, wearing sunglasses, talks with a well-wisher. Space shuttle Atlantis landed on Runway 33, completing the 4.5-million-mile STS-129 mission to the International Space Station on orbit 171. Main gear touchdown was at 9:44:23 a.m. EST. Nose gear touchdown was at 9:44:36 a.m., and wheels stop was at 9:45:05 a.m. On STS-129, the six-member crew delivered 14 tons of cargo to the orbiting laboratory, including two ExPRESS Logistics Carriers containing spare parts to sustain station operations after the shuttles are retired next year. For information on the STS-129 mission and crew, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts129/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett