Inside the International Space Station’s Node 2, the STS-135 crew (final space shuttle mission) presented the Expedition 28 crew (ISS crew) this special U.S. flag and mounted it on the hatch leading to Atlantis. The flag was flown on the first space shuttle mission, STS-1, and flew on this last mission to be presented to the space station crew.
It will remain onboard until the next crew launched from the U.S. (aboard a U.S. spacecraft) will retrieve it for return to Earth. It will fly from Earth again, with the crew that launches from the U.S. on a journey of exploration beyond Earth orbit.