After 30 years and 135 missions the Space Shuttle program is at an end.

The shuttle Atlantis made a picture perfect landing at the Kennedy Space Center at 5:56am (EST) ending its final mission and the final mission of the shuttle program. For the time being the United States will step out of the manned space launch program, though we will continue to send people to the International Space Station aboard Russian rockets.

Certainly the decision to step out of the program is one worth discussion but for now I think we are well served by congratulating the astronauts and giving a big well done to three decades of exploration.

On a side note, today is also the 50th anniversary of the launch of Mercury IV which sent Gus Grissom into a 15 minute sub orbital flight. So it is also worth considering the progress made in those five decades

The other TMV writers and I will be providing additional posts reviewing the Shuttle Program as well as the future of US Space Flight as the day and week progresses. But for now, a big WELCOME HOME to Atlantis.