Atlantis delivers on its destiny

NASA's STS-98 mission to the International Space Station marked a huge milestone in the life of the space agency as the $1.4 billion Destiny science lab was delivered to the orbiting outpost, making space station Alpha the world's biggest space habitat in history.

The mission began with a sunset liftoff that left one of the most spectacular exhaust plumes ever seen hanging in the clear sky over the Space Coast after a launch.

Three spacewalks also offered plenty of drama and beautiful pictures from space, while inside the Atlantis and Expedition One crews activated the Destiny module and enjoyed each other's company during a tight schedule.

Then after three consecutive days of bad weather in Florida, Atlantis and its five astronauts returned to Earth landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California. It was another week before the shuttle safely returned to Florida atop a 747 jumbo jet, leaving Atlantis next scheduled for launch in mid-June.

-- Jim Banke, Senior Producer in the Cape Canaveral Bureau

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