Atlantis, the last U.S. space shuttle is returning back home.

Atlantis on Tuesday departed the International Space Station and slipped away after a partial lap around the station.

Chris Ferguson shuttle Atlantis commander and pilot Doug Hurley gently pulsed their spaceship's steering jets at 2:28 a.m. EDT to depart from the station as they
sailed about 250 miles over the Pacific Ocean.

Thanks so much for hosting us, Ferguson radioed to the station crew. It's been an absolute pleasure.

We'll miss you guys, replied station flight engineer Ron Garan. See you back on Earth.

More than 5 tons of food, clothing, equipment and science experiments, was delivered by Ferguson and his team in their nine-day visit to the station.

Atlantis' return to Earth, scheduled for Thursday, will conclude the 30-year-old U.S. space shuttle program, with no replacement U.S. spaceships ready to fly, Reuters
reported.

NASA managers said that weather looks favorable for Atlantis' planned pre-dawn landing at Kennedy Space Center (KSC) at 5:56 a.m. EDT on Thursday.

In broad terms the weather looks very good, said LeRoy Cain, deputy shuttle program manager. We have a very good chance to get into KSC on Thursday.

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Space shuttle Atlantis Commander Chris Ferguson holds an American flag flown on the first space shuttle in a group portrait Reuters
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The space shuttle Atlantis and International Space Station crew pose for a photo during a special meal on Atlantis' middeck Reuters
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Flight engineer Mike Fossum works outside the International Space Station Reuters
Atlantis Space Shuttle
NASA spacewalker Mike Fossum's helmet visor mirrors a panoramic scene Reuters
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Spacewalkers Mike Fossum and Ron Garan are assisted by space shuttle Atlantis Commander Chris Ferguson and Rex Walheim Reuters
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NASA astronaut Mike Fossum checks out his tools in the International Space Station's Quest airlock. Reuters
Atlantis Space Shuttle
NASA handout photo by an astronaut from the space shuttle Atlantis while visiting the International Space Station shows the Southern Lights or Aurora Australis Reuters
NASA International Space Station NASA NASA