Atlantis crew

In this photo, the Atlantis crew members are wearing their training flight suits. Pictured clockwise from bottom are Commander Ken Ham, Mission Specialists Garrett Reisman and Michael Good, Pilot Tony Antonelli, and Mission Specialists Piers Sellers and Steve Bowen.

Photo credit: NASA/JSC.

Pegasus barge

The Pegasus barge carried the shuttle’s ET-136 primary fuel tank from the assembly center near New Orleans to the Vehicle Assembly Building at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston .

ET-136 fuel tank

A closer shot of the shuttle’s ET-136 fuel tank. Workers inspected the tank before it was brought into the Vehicle Assembly Building.

Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder.

Atlantis assembly

Atlantis is being lowered onto its fuel tank, ET-136, and rocket boosters.

Photo credit: NASA/Cory Huston.

Transporting Atlantis

Atlantis is being transported from the Orbiter Processing Facility-1 to the Vehicle Assembly Building.

Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller.

Dawn on launch day

This is an early morning shot on Sunday, May 14, 2010 of Atlantis at launch pad 39A.

Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller.

Launch pad

At the launch pad, Atlantis is pictured with the sun glistening through the braces that attach the fuel tank and rocket boosters.

Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller.

Atlantis takes off

Atlantis embarks upon its 32nd space flight in a typical, but still remarkable, takeoff.

Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller.

Atlantis soars

Atlantis soars through clear, blue Florida afternoon skies.

Photo credit: NASA/Kenny Allen.

Observers of the Atlantis launch

Throngs of adults and children gather for every space shuttle launch. STS-132 is no exception.

Photo credit: NASA/Ben Cooper.

Dropping the fuel tank

As Atlantis neared orbit, it dropped its fuel tank into the Atlantic Ocean. This shot was taken by an Atlantis crew member.

Photo credit: NASA.

Fuel tank retrieval

The Liberty Star is tasked with the retrieval of the rocket boosters. The boosters will be processed and stored in a facility in Utah in case they are needed again.

Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller.

EVA-1

Mission Specialist Garrett Reisman is replacing the International Space Station’s batteries, which was one of the reasons for STS-132. To see related images, check out these Hubble Telescope photos.

Photo credit: NASA.

International Space Station cupola

A photo of astronaut Expedition 23 Flight Engineer Tracy Caldwell Dyson inside the cupola, which was installed by the Endeavour crew in February 2010.

Photo credit: NASA.

Exercise

Besides performing their scientific and maintenance duties, astronauts are required to maintain their strength and muscle tone while in zero-g. Expedition 23 Flight Engineer T.J. Creamer is using the advanced Resistive Exercise Device.

Photo credit: NASA.

Group photo

Members of the STS-132 and Expedition 23 crew pose for a portrait while the Atlantis was docked with the International Space Station.

Photo credit: NASA.

Kibo

With the Earth in the background, here is a shot of the Japanese Kibo module on the International Space Station.

Photo credit: NASA.

Touchdown

The Atlantis touched down at the Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility on the morning of May 26, 2010. The landing took over a minute, from the point where the back wheels touched down to wheelstop.

Photo credit: NASA/Carl Winebarger.

Drag chute

To help in slowing the space shuttle, a drag chute is deployed.

Photo credit: NASA/Jim Grossmann.

Safety and emergency convoy

Whenever a landing is planned, a convoy of safety and emergency vehicles is on standby.

Photo credit: NASA/Sandra Joseph and Carl Winebarger.

Workers Observing Transport

From inside the Atlantis crew compartment, you can see that dozens of NASA workers were waiting for the shuttle to arrive.

Photo credit: Troy Cryder/courtesy of NASA.

Crew transfer vehicle

The Atlantis crew exit the crew transfer vehicle. Much has changed in the return to Earth since those first Apollo days.

Photo credit: Kim Shiflett/courtesy of NASA.

Underside of Atlantis

Pilot Tony Antonelli poses for a photo underneath Atlantis. Notice the burn marks on the space shuttle’s skin from the atmosphere.

Photo credit: Kim Shiflett/courtesy of NASA.

Crew photo

After disembarking, the crew pose for another photo.

Photo credit: Kim Shiflett/courtesy of NASA.

Power down

After the shuttle has landed, a team of technicians enter the shuttle to power it down and prepare it for transport to the Orbiter Processing Facility-1.

Photo credit: Troy Cryder/courtesy of NASA.

Towing

The shuttle is being towed to the Orbiter Processing Facility-1.

Photo credit: Jack Pfaller/courtesy of NASA.

Orbiter Processing Facility

Atlantis entered the Orbiter Processing Facility-1 after its last scheduled flight. It will be processed in case it is needed for a rescue mission before the shuttle program shuts down.

Photo credit: Jack Pfaller/courtesy of NASA.

To see more photos, check out the complete NASA STS-132 mission gallery and the related CBS News gallery.