The commander who brought shuttle Atlantis to a final homecoming Thursday said US space exploration would carry on, as he lauded the vessel for changing "the way we view the world."

"After serving the world for over 30 years, the space shuttle has earned its place in history, and it has come to a final stop," commander Chris Ferguson said moments after Atlantis touched down at Kennedy Space Center, marking an end to NASA's shuttle program.

Culminating a flawless mission to the International Space Station, Atlantis landed at 5:57 (0957 GMT) Thursday, 41 minutes before sunrise as twin sonic booms heralded her arrival over Florida.

The aging shuttle hissed and sputtered and spewed steam as it stood triumphantly on the landing strip, and Ferguson's voice cracked as he spoke of the legacy of a vessel that has been a central part of American spaceflight over three decades.

"The space shuttle has changed the way we view the world, it has changed the way we view our universe," he said.

"There was a lot of emotion today but one thing is indisputable, America is not going to stop exploring," he added.

"Thank you Columbia, Challenger, Discover, Endeavour, and our ship Atlantis. Thanks for protecting us and bringing this program to such a fitting end."

"God bless all of you, God bless the United States of America," the commander said.

NASA's mission control, too, took a moment to admire the accomplishments of the program.

"Having fired the imagination of a generation, a ship like no other, its place in history secured, the space shuttle pulls into port for the last time, its voyage at an end," a NASA commentator said as Atlantis rolled to a stop.

The US space agency then congratulated Atlantis, "as well as the thousands of passionate individuals across this great spacefaring nation who truly empowered this incredible spacecraft which for three decades has inspired millions around the globe.

"Job well done, America."

As the sun rose over Florida, NASA engineers opened the hatch on the white and black shuttle, helping mission specialists Sandy Magnus and Rex Walheim, and pilot Doug Hurley step out and on to terra firma after nearly two weeks in space.

Ferguson savored the moment as the last man aboard, and thanked mission control for their "spectacular job" in guiding the vessel home on its final voyage.

"It's going to be hard," the commander said moments before becoming the last astronaut to step out of a working space shuttle, "but we're going to walk off Atlantis."

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