美国西部时间8月9日凌晨5点12分，“发现号”航天飞机划过加州莫哈韦沙漠的夜空，安全降落在爱德华兹空军基地。“发现号”机组七勇士走下航天飞机，迎着明媚的晨曦举行凯旋的完美谢幕。外电报道如下：The space shuttle Discovery touched down Tuesday morning, completing NASA's first shuttle mission since Columbia broke apart during re-entry in February 2003.The shuttle landed at 5:11 a.m. PT at NASA's secondary landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California. As commander Eileen Collins brought the orbiter to a stop on runway 22, NASA spokesman James Hartsfield stated, "Discovery is home." "Congratulations on a truly spectacular test flight," mission control radioed the crew. "Welcome home friends." Touch down表示“（飞机）着陆，降落”，此外还有“底线得分”的意思。