HOUSTON (AP) - Applause erupted at NASA's Mission Control in Houston when the last space shuttle landed - but it wasn't from the two dozen men and one woman working the final flight.

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The applause and emotion came from the flight controllers' families. The controllers themselves didn't show any reaction immediately, busy working the final landing of the 30-year shuttle program in Florida.

But nine minutes later, the emotions started to come to the surface. That's when controllers stood up, shook hands, laughed a bit, patted each on their backs and signed memorabilia.

Even though some of them will lose their jobs and the shuttle era ended, tears were absent.