Goodbye, Farewell, and Thanks For All the Fish,....

What's Russian for "utter failure?"

Atlantis Makes Final Landing, Ending 30-Year Shuttle Program

After decades of inspiring millions around the globe, space shuttle Atlantis made a final, picture-perfect touchdown at Kennedy Space Center at 5:56 a.m. EDT -- ending the shuttle program.

"Job well done, America," mission control told pilot Doug Hurley and the thousands watching and listening to the landing in the pre-dawn dark.


There was a clear sense of nostalgia on the part of both crew and staff at Kennedy Space Center, as the ship made its final arrival safe and sound.

"Having fired the imaginations of a generation, a ship like no other, its place in history secured, the space shuttle pulls into port for the last time -- its voyage at an end," reported mission control.

"Mission complete, Houston," Hurley responded. "After serving the world for over 30 years, the space shuttle has earned its place in history. Atlantis has come to a final stop."

"It’s been 30 great years for the Space Shuttle program," said Bill Nye, executive director of the Planetary Society, in a statement on the landing. "With this venerable space vehicle retired, it’s on to the next adventure."

The shuttle signaled its approach with its signature dual sonic booms as Atlantis slowed to subsonic speeds at around 5:52 a.m. -- an incredible experience, said former shuttle astronaut Tom Jones.

"Everything seems to accelerate" when you're landing a shuttle, he told Fox News. "It's like going down a dirt road in a dump truck."

30 years advancing humanity into space and one administration driving America into near-bankruptcy and we have to take a backseat to Russia when it comes to psace exploration! Nice going, Barry!