After 19 years since it first blast off into space, the shuttle Endeavour is on its way home from its final mission. Astronauts aboard the Endeavour spent close to two weeks in orbit, mainly assembling a spectrometer at the International Space Station.
The space shuttle Endeavour is seen on a launch pad as a storm passes by Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., April 28, 2011.
NASA/Bill Ingalls
Endeavour crew members from right to left: NASA astronauts Mark Kelly, Greg H. Johnson, Michael Fincke, Roberto Vittori, Andrew Feustel and Greg Chamitoff are seen after suiting up, May 16, 2011.
NASA
The space shuttle Endeavour is seen on launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., May 15, 2011.
NASA/Bill Ingalls
NASA officials view space shuttle Endeavour as it launches skyward at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., May 16, 2011.
NASA/Bill Ingalls
Space shuttle Endeavour and its six-member crew head toward Earth's orbit to rendezvous with the International Space Station on May 16, 2011.
NASA
Space shuttle Endeavour and its six-member crew head toward Earth's orbit to rendezvous with the International Space Station from the Kennedy Space Center, May 16, 2011.
NASA
Space shuttle Endeavour and its six-member crew head toward Earth's orbit to rendezvous with the International Space Station from the Kennedy Space Center, May 16, 2011.
NASA
Photographed from a shuttle training aircraft, space shuttle Endeavour and its crew head toward Earth orbit to rendezvous with the International Space Station at Kennedy Space Center, May 16, 2011.
NASA
Photographed from a shuttle training aircraft, space shuttle Endeavour and its crew head toward Earth's orbit to rendezvous with the International Space Station, May 16, 2011.
NASA
An external fuel tank is seen during its release from space shuttle Endeavour in space following the successful launch on May 16, 2011.
NASA
The Canadarm, left, is pictured on the second flight day, May 17, 2011.
NASA
A close-up view of the Endeavour crew cabin is taken by an Expedition 27-crew-member during a survey of the approaching shuttle prior to docking with the International Space Station, May 18, 2011.
NASA
A close-up view of the Endeavour is taken by Expedition crew prior to docking with the International Space Station, May 18, 2011.
NASA
A close-up view of the Endeavour is taken by Expedition crew prior to docking with the International Space Station, May 18, 2011.
NASA
A close-up view of the Endeavour is taken by Expedition crew prior to docking with the International Space Station, May 18, 2011.
NASA
One of the Expedition 27 crew members aboard the International Space Station recorded this image of the distant space shuttle Endeavour, May 18, 2011.
NASA
Astronaut Greg Chamitoff uses a computer on the aft flight deck of space shuttle Endeavour during rendezvous and docking operations with the International Space Station on flight day three, May 18, 2011.
NASA
The International Space Station is backdropped against the blackness of space as the two spacecraft made their relative approach on May 18, 2011.
NASA
One of the Expedition 27 crew members aboard the International Space Station recorded this image of Endeavour the two spacecraft made their relative approach, May 18, 2011.
NASA
One of the Expedition 27 crew members aboard the International Space Station recorded this image of Endeavour the two spacecraft made their relative approach, May 18, 2011.
NASA
The space shuttle Endeavour, foreground, appears to be in waiting mode as astronauts inside the crew cabin await the impending docking with the International Space Station, May 18, 2011.
NASA
Space shuttle Endeavour is shown docked with the International Space Station, May 18, 2011.
NASA
The handoff between space shuttle Endeavour's robotic Canadarm and the International Space Station's Canadarm2 is shown, May 18, 2011.
NASA
The space shuttle Endeavour is shown docked with the International Space Center, May 18, 2011.
NASA
Astronauts Andrew Feustel and Greg Chamitoff participate in the mission's first space walk on May 20, 2011.
NASA
Astronauts Andrew Feustel and Greg Chamitoff participate in the mission's first space walk on May 20, 2011.
NASA
Astronaut Greg Chamitoff nears the completion of his space walk on May 20, 2011.
NASA
Intersecting the thin line of Earth's atmosphere, the International Space Station's solar array wings are shown as the space shuttle Endeavour remains docked with the station, May 20, 2011.
NASA
Astronaut Greg H. Johnson floats through a hatch on the International Space Station, May 20, 2011.
NASA
Astronauts Andrew Feustel, left, and Greg Chamitoff take part in the mission's first space walk on May 20, 2011.
NASA
International Space Station's solar panels and a blue and white part of Earth are shown, May 21, 2011.
NASA
Astronaut Andrew Feustel participates in the mission's second space walk on May 22, 2011.
NASA
Astronaut Andrew Feustel uses a still camera to photograph the topography of a point on Earth from a window at the International Space Station while space shuttle Endeavour remains docked, May 23, 2011.
NASA
Astronauts Andrew Feustel, right, and Michael Fincke take part in the mission's third space walk on May 25, 2011.
NASA
Astronaut Andrew Feustel takes part in the mission's third space walk on May 25, 2011.
NASA
Astronaut Michael Fincke takes part in the mission's fourth space walk on May 25, 2011.
NASA
Astronaut Michael Fincke takes part in the mission's fourth space walk on May 25, 2011.
NASA
A fish-eye lens captures astronaut Michael Fincke on his fourth space walk, May 27, 2011.
NASA
A portion of the International Space Station and the docked space shuttle Endeavour is shown through a fish-eye lens.
NASA
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