CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Atlantis and its crew

of seven astronauts ended an 11-day journey of nearly 4.5

million miles with a landing Friday at NASA's Kennedy Space

Centre in Florida.

The mission, designated STS-129, included three spacewalks and the

installation of two platforms to the International Space Station's

truss, or backbone. The platforms hold large spare parts to

sustain station operations after the shuttles are retired.

The shuttle crew  delivered about 30,000 pounds of

replacement parts for systems that provide power to the station,

keep it from overheating, and maintain a proper orientation

in space.

STS-129 Commander Charlie Hobaugh was joined on Atlantis' STS-129

mission by Pilot Barry Wilmore and Mission Specialists Leland

Melvin, Randy Bresnik, Mike Foreman and Bobby Satcher.

Atlantis returned with station resident Nicole Stott, who spent 91

days in space.

Source: NASA