The final voyage of a shuttle that traveled 120 million miles

Space · Published 20 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Space shuttle Atlantis concluded its 25-year career with STS-132, a mission defined by heavy lifting and high-stakes maintenance. Beyond the cargo, the crew performed three complex spacewalks to upgrade the International Space Station's power systems and expand its modular footprint in orbit.

The Atlantis orbiter achieved a major landmark during its role as the 34th voyage of a space shuttle to the International Space Station (ISS), designated STS-132. Launched on May 14, 2010, from Launch Pad 39, the mission lasted just under 12 days. During this window, the crew—led by Commander Ken Ham and Pilot Tony Antonelli—successfully delivered an Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC) and a Russian-built Mini Research Module known as Rassvet ("dawn").

The technical core of the mission involved significant infrastructure expansion and maintenance. The Rassvet module was installed on the station's Zarya module, while the ICC served as a mobile worksite for extravehicular activities. To facilitate these tasks, Mission Specialists Garrett Reisman and Piers Sellers operated Canadarm2, the station's robotic arm, to maneuver heavy components into position. This allowed the crew to perform three distinct spacewalks focused on hardware upgrades.

The maintenance was particularly critical for the station's energy grid. During the first two spacewalks, specialists installed a spare antenna and replaced batteries on the P6 Truss. The final spacewalk involved replacing the last of these solar-storing batteries and retrieving a power data grapple fixture. Upon completion, Atlantis undocked after seven days of operations and returned to NASA's Kennedy Space Center on May 26, 2010, concluding a career that spanned over 120 million miles across 32 flights.

This mission highlights the transition from simple cargo delivery to complex orbital construction. By integrating Russian modules like Rassvet with American shuttle capabilities, STS-132 demonstrated the collaborative engineering required to sustain long-term human presence in space.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• The 132nd flight of a shuttle that lived for 32 missions
• The final flight of a 30-year era in space exploration
• The final shuttle flight to deliver a legacy of space logistics
• The final shuttle voyage that carried a baby's first breath
• A bicycle injury forced an unexpected seat change for a space shuttle
• The logistical heavy lifting behind orbital science and space exploration
• The final curtain call for the space shuttle Discovery
• The 30,000-pound logistical lifeline that kept the ISS alive
• Expanding the limits of orbital living and logistics
• The logistics of moving a treadmill into orbit
• The final flight of a space shuttle icon
• The massive steel engineering behind the Space Shuttle's launch pad

More in Space agencies · More in Space · Latest · A–Z · All topics