The Space Shuttle Atlantis landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center after completing its mission to the International Space Station. Click on image for full size (20K JPG) Courtesy of NASA

It took much longer than NASA had hoped, but the Space Shuttle Atlantis finally made it to the International Space Station (ISS) this past week. Delay after delay kept Atlantis grounded and the ISS in need of repairs. Scientists are rejoicing after the 10 day mission was completed with a landing at Kennedy Space Center.

Why are scientists so excited about the space station? The all-important service module should arrive this summer, which means astronauts will soon stay on the station. This mission's goal was to prepare the ISS for the module. The orbit was corrected and repairs were made. The next step is to add the service module made by Russia.

"The kind of health problems that we have to overcome on the way to Mars will be solved in a large part on the space station,'' NASA Administrator Dan Goldin said. "So the path to Mars goes right (through) the International Space Station.''

"We have a lot of launches coming once the (Zvezda) service module gets up there,'' Goldin said. "We have a lot of hard work ahead of us.''

The Space Shuttle Atlantis landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center after completing its mission to the International Space Station. Click on image for full size (20K JPG) Courtesy of NASA

It took much longer than NASA had hoped, but the Space Shuttle Atlantis finally made it to the International Space Station (ISS) this past week. Many delays kept Atlantis grounded and the ISS in need of repairs. Scientists are excited after the 10 day mission was completed with a landing at Kennedy Space Center.

Why are scientists so excited about the space station? The important service module should arrive this summer, which means astronauts will soon stay on the station. This mission's goal was to prepare the ISS for the module. The orbit was corrected and repairs were made. The next step is to add the service module made by Russia.

The Space Shuttle Atlantis landed safely at the Kennedy Space Center after completing its mission to the International Space Station. Click on image for full size (20K JPG) Courtesy of NASA

The Space Shuttle Atlantis has returned home! The crew has finished its 10 day mission to the International Space Station (ISS). They were sent to change the craft's orbit and to make repairs.

The mission was delayed several times before finally starting last week. Scientists are excited because the service module made by Russia will be launched this summer. Astronauts will start living on the ISS later this year.