Atlantis crew readies to return to earth

ATLANTIS’S astronauts got their spaceship ready for the ride home yesterday, wrapping up a two-week mission to add Europe’s new orbital laboratory to the international space station.

The seven-man crew was spending the day conducting pre-landing systems checks and completing other chores, along with participating in televised interviews.

Early weather forecasts looked good for this morning’s planned touchdown at Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, NASA said.