Atlantis is towed back from the mate demate device at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility.

Atlantis is towed back from the mate/demate device at Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility. The orbiter will be towed to the Orbiter Processing Facility, where processing will begin for its next launch, mission STS-122 in December. In the background is the shuttle carrier aircraft, or SCA. Atlantis arrived at Kennedy Space Center atop the SCA on July 3 after a three-day, cross-country flight due to fuel stops and weather delays. Touchdown was at 8:27 a.m. EDT. Atlantis landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California on June 22 to end mission STS-117. Photo credit: NASA/George Shelton.