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Space shuttle era ends with Atlantis

When Atlantis touched down yesterday at Cape Canaveral, Fla., the high-flying era of the space shuttles came down to earth as well. After 30 years, the shuttle program, which began on April 12, 1981 with Colombia, has ended with the 135th mission. Atlantis delivered the Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module packed with supplies and spare parts to the International Space Station, and retrieved a failed pump unit and other items for the return trip. Atlantis went aloft 33 times, logging over 125 million miles. The last shuttle will become a museum exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center. -- Lane Turner (41 photos total)

The space shuttle Atlantis flies over the Bahamas prior to a perfect docking with the International Space Station on July 10, 2011. Part of a Russian Progress spacecraft docked to the station is in the foreground. (AP Photo/NASA)

ATK engineers take a look at the company's final booster motor for the space shuttle program in Box Elder County, Utah. For more than 30 years, NASA's space shuttle program has been a cornerstone of Utah's economy. That era ended with Atlantis, which ends the shuttle program. The Salt Lake Tribune reports that it stops the flow of hundreds of millions of dollars that came to Utah from NASA for tests and construction of the solid-fuel rocket booster motors that launch the spacecraft into orbit. Gone, too, are thousands of jobs from Alliant Tech Systems, known as ATK, and other northern Utah companies that supported the industry. (Al Hartmann/The Salt Lake Tribune/AP) 

The STS-135 crew practices rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station while being observed in the Systems Engineering Simulator at the Johnson Space Center on June 28, 2011 in Houston. (Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle/AP) 

In her final hours before going into quarantine, astronaut Sandy Magnus (left) enjoys a scoop of ice cream after going out with friends, including Mary Brandt, in Houston on July 1, 2011. (Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle/AP) 

The rotating service structure rolls away from space shuttle Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. on July 7, 2011. (Stan Honda/AP/Pool) 

The space shuttle Atlantis stands shortly after the rotating service structure was rolled back at launch pad 39A at the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida July 7, 2011. (Bill Ingalls-NASA/Reuters/Handout) 

Spectators stake out spots early as they wait for the launch of space shuttle Atlantis at Jetty Park in Cape Canaveral, Florida on July 8, 2011. (Brian Blanco/Reuters) 

A man sleeps on the hood of his car while waiting for space shuttle Atlantis to launch in Titusville, Fla. on July 8, 2011. (Gerry Broome/AP) 

Spur King from Armarillo, Texas sleeps on the roof of a van as he waits to watch the launch of space shuttle Atlantis on July 8, 2011 in Titusville, Fla. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images) 

Spectators gather near the Visitors Center at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, to watch the space shuttle Atlantis take off July 8, 2011. (Chip Litherland/Reuters) 

Spectators line the A. Max Brewer bridge in anticipation of the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis in Titusville, Fla. July 8, 2011. (Hans Deryk/Reuters) 

Shaun O'Dwyer of Orlando listens to an emergency radio for status reports in anticipation of the launch of the space shuttle Atlantis as he joins thousands on the A. Max Brewer bridge in Titusville, Fla. on July 8, 2011. (Hans Deryk/Reuters) 

Warren Hinson, a NASA Emergency Response Team member, keeps an eye out while flying near the Vehicle Assembly Building prior to the launch of space shuttle Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center Friday on July 8, 2011, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (Bill Ingalls/NASA/AP) 

Space shuttle Atlantis astronauts (right to left) Commander Chris Ferguson, Rex Walheim, Pilot Doug Hurley, and Mission Specialist Sandra Magnus are seen boarding their transport on July 8, 2011 at Kennedy Space Center. (STR/AFP/Getty Images) 

The space shuttle Atlantis lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center on July 8, 2011, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (Dave Martin/AP) 

Space shuttle Atlantis blasts off from launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center on July 8, 2011. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) 

Atlantis and its four astronauts blasted off practically on schedule at 11:29 a.m., July 8, 2011. (Robert Ray/AP) (Reuters/NASA/Handout) 

NASA managers watch from Firing Room Four of the Launch Control Center as the space shuttle Atlantis lifts off from Launch Pad 39A on July 8, 2011. (Bill Ingalls/NASA/Reuters/Handout) 

Ron Stillman (left) and Tara Reece of Cocoa Beach, Fla. watch from their suf boards as the space shuttle Atlantis lifts off in Cocoa Beach, Fla. on July 8, 2011. (Dave Martin/AP) 

A spectator reacts as space shuttle Atlantis lifts off on July 8, 2011 in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) 

NASA Administrator Charles Bolden hugs Launch Director Michael Leinbach (right) in the Launch Control Center shortly after the space shuttle Atlantis launched on July 8, 2011. (Bill Ingalls/NASA/Reuters/Handout) 

Visitors leave messages on a large sign wishing the crew of the space shuttle Atlantis well after its lift off at the Kennedy Space Center on July 8, 2011. (Lucas Jackson/Reuters) 

The external fuel tank floats away from Atlantis after a successful launch on July 8, 2011 in space. (NASA via Getty Images) 

The nose of Atlantis in Earth orbit is seen during a Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver, or back flip to enable space station crew members to take high resolution digital pictures of the shuttle's heat shield before docking for the last time with the International Space Station on July 10, 2011. (NASA via Getty Images) 

The International Space Station and Atlantis (right) orbit Earth on July 12, 2011. A Russian Soyuz craft is docked on the far left. (HO/AFP/Getty Images) 

Astronaut Ron Garan checks out his pistol grip tool in the International Space Station's Quest airlock prior to his July 12 spacewalk on July 12, 2011. (Reuters/NASA/Handout) 

Atlantis and International Space Station astronauts gather for one of the final meals shared between shuttle and station crews aboard the orbiting laboratory on July 14, 2011. (Reuters/NASA/Handout) 

Atlantis Pilot Doug Hurley moves supplies and equipment in the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module of the International Space Station on July 11, 2011. (Reuters/NASA/Handout) 

Astronaut Rex Walheim works on the mid-deck of Atlantis on July 09, 2011. (NASA via Getty Images) 

Atlantis Commander Chris Ferguson (left) and Pilot Doug Hurley pause on the flight deck of the orbiter on July 9, 2011. (Reuters/NASA/Handout) 

Astronaut Ronald Garan leaves the Quest airlock on the International Space Station during a planned six-and-a-half-hour spacewalk along with astronaut Mike Fossum on July 12, 2011. This is the 160th spacewalk devoted to station assembly and maintenance since construction began in 1998. (NASA via Getty Images) 

Astronaut Mike Fossum carries a Robotics Refueling Mission payload from Atlantis' cargo bay to a platform used by the space station's famous robot DEXTRE. Above on the far left, DEXTRE prepares to help move a failed space pump back to Atlantis. Visible behind the astronaut is the space station's Kibo Experimental Module. (HO/AFP/Getty Images) 

Spacewalker Ron Garan rides on the International Space Station's robotic arm with Earth below as he transfers a failed pump module to the cargo bay of space shuttle Atlantis during the final spacewalk on July 12, 2011. (Reuters/NASA/Handout) 

Earth's airglow is seen as a thin line above Earth's horizon behind the shuttle and the International Space Station. The Raffaello multi-purpose logistics module, full of items to be returned to Earth, is seen in the aft cargo bay. (Mike Fossum/NASA/AP) 

Astronaut Sandy Magnus gets one last visit to the Cupola on board the International Space Station before the two spacecraft undocked on July 18, 2011. (NASA via Getty Images) 

Atlantis lands on July 21, 2011 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, ending its 13-day mission. (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images)

Atlantis lands on July 21, 2011 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images)

The space shuttle Atlantis lands in the pre-dawn hours on July 21, 2011 at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The shuttle and its four-member crew landed safely at 5:56 am. (Stan Honda/AFP/Getty Images) 

Atlantis lands at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. on July 21, 2011. (Craig Rubadoux/Florida Today/AP)

Commander Chris Ferguson walks under Atlantis after landing at the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. on July 21, 2011. (Scott Audette/AP/Pool)