CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space shuttle Endeavour and its six astronauts returned to Earth early today, closing out the next-to-last mission in NASA’s 30-year program with a safe middle-of-the-night landing.

Endeavour glided down onto the runway one final time under the cover of darkness, just as Atlantis, the last shuttle bound for space, arrived at the launch pad for the grand finale in five weeks.

Commander Mark Kelly — whose wife, wounded Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, remained behind at her rehab center in Houston — brought Endeavour to a stop before hundreds of onlookers that included the four Atlantis astronauts who will take flight in July.

Endeavour, the youngest of the shuttles with 123 million miles over 25 flights, is now bound for a museum in California, shipping out early next year.

“Your landing ends a vibrant legacy for this amazing vehicle that will long be remembered,” Mission Control told Kelly and his crewmates, who wrapped up U.S. construction at the International Space Station during the mission.

“It’s sad to see her land for the last time,” Kelly replied, “but she really has a great legacy.”