Space History Photo: STS-30 Landing

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The Space Shuttle Atlantis returns after mission STS-30, landing at Edwards Air Force Base on May 8, 1989. (Image credit: NASA.)

In this historical photo from the U.S. space agency, the Space Shuttle Atlantis returns to Earth after mission STS-30 landing at Edwards Air Force Base, CA. at 3:43:38 EDT on May 8, 1989.

The orbiter Atlantis was launched form Kennedy Space Center May 4, 1989 at 2:46:59 p.m. EDT carrying into low Earth orbit the spacecraft Magellan. It was Atlantis' fourth shuttle mission. Approximately six hours after launch, Magellan was deployed from the Atlantis payload bay beginning its 15 month long journey to the planet Venus. Crew members of STS-30 were: Commander David M. Walker; Pilot Ronald J. Grabe; and Mission Specialists Mark C. Lee, Norman E. Thagard, and Mary L. Cleave.

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U.S. Space Agency

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the U.S. government agency in charge of the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Founded in 1958, NASA is a civilian space agency aimed at exploring the universe with space telescopes,  satellites, robotic spacecraft, astronauts and more. The space agency has 10 major centers based across the U.S. and launches robotic and crewed missions from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral Florida. Its astronaut corps is based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. To follow NASA's latest mission, follow the space agency on Twitter or any other social channel, visit: nasa.gov.