Space shuttle Endeavour: MSN gallery (Image © REUTERS/Pierre Ducharme)
The US space shuttle Endeavour ended a 13-day spaceflight on Tuesday, apparently unscathed during its supersonic descent through the atmosphere despite a small tear in its heat shield.
Endeavour gently nosed onto a 3-mile canal-lined runway at 5:32pm British Time, just a short distance from the seaside launch pad where the shuttle's journey began on Aug 8. "It's just a beautiful sight to see an orbiter come home to Florida," said shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach.
In this gallery, MSN UK News brings you a selection of the most arresting images from Endeavour's incredible journey into outer space.

In pictures: space shuttle Endeavour's journey beyond sight and sound

Click to enlargeClick to enlargeClick to enlargeClick to enlargeClick to enlarge
Click to enlargeClick to enlargeClick to enlargeClick to enlargeClick to enlarge
Click to enlargeClick to enlargeClick to enlargeClick to enlargeClick to enlarge
Click to enlargeClick to enlargeClick to enlargeClick to enlargeClick to enlarge