HOUSTON, Nov. 25 (UPI) -- The U.S. space shuttle Atlantis and its seven astronauts undocked from the International Space Station Wednesday, beginning the return to Earth.
Immediately after separating at 4:53 a.m. EST, shuttle pilot Barry Wilmore maneuvered Atlantis into an orbit circling the space station while station astronauts visually inspected the shuttle's heat shield for possible damage inflicted during its launch from the Kennedy Space Center.