Shooting star: Atlantis lights up the early morning sky during its re-entry from orbit, as seen from the International Space Station (photo credit: NASA).

Atlantis landed safely at Kennedy Space Center early this morning, bringing the Space Shuttle program to an end at 6AM ET. The first Space Shuttle was launched eight years after the last American astronauts left the surface of the Moon, with the Apollo-Soyuz and Skylab missions filling the gap. After today, the United States has no manned spacecraft (photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett).

Last look back at the International Space Station from Space Shuttle Atlantis as it prepares to return to earth for the last time. On the 42nd anniversary of the first Apollo landing, the moon behind the ISS seems farther away than ever (image credit: NASA).

Final departure from the International Space Station of a U.S. Space Shuttle today, as Atlantis begins its last return from orbit (photo by NASA Astronaut Ron Garan, Expedition 27/28).

Final launch of NASA’s Space Shuttle program this morning, framed by mangrove trees (photo credit: Red Huber, Orlando Sentinel)