A receiving line of NASA managers congratulate the members of the STS-129 crew on a successful mission.

At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a receiving line of NASA managers and well-wishers congratulate the members of the STS-129 crew on a successful mission. In line from left, in the blue suits, are STS-129 Commander Charles O. Hobaugh; Pilot Barry E. Wilmore; and Mission Specialists Leland Melvin, Randy Bresnik and Robert L. Satcher Jr. Looking on from the top of the stairs is astronaut Peggy Whitson, chief of the Astronaut Corps, who has spent a total of 377 days in space while a member of two Expedition crews on the International Space Station. Space shuttle Atlantis landed on Runway 33, completing the 4.5-million-mile STS-129 mission to the International Space Station on orbit 171. Main gear touchdown was at 9:44:23 a.m. EST. Nose gear touchdown was at 9:44:36 a.m., and wheels stop was at 9:45:05 a.m. On STS-129, the six-member crew delivered 14 tons of cargo to the orbiting laboratory, including two ExPRESS Logistics Carriers containing spare parts to sustain station operations after the shuttles are retired next year. For information on the STS-129 mission and crew, visit http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts129/index.html.

Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett