Post by ۞Quaalude™۞ on Sept 12, 2009 3:16:43 GMT -5
Space shuttle Discovery and its seven astronauts took a cross-country detour ...EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. — Space shuttle Discovery and its seven astronauts took a cross-country detour and landed safely in California on Friday after stormy weather prevented them from returning home to Florida for the second day in a row.
Discovery swooped through the sky, breaking through clouds, and touched down at Edwards Air Force Base north of Los Angeles an hour before sunset, ending its delivery trip to the international space station.
"Welcome home, Discovery," Mission Control radioed. "Congratulations on an extremely successful mission."
Stormy weather made it too risky to bring Discovery back conditions were even worse Friday. So flight director Richard Jones opted for the clear flying conditions of the Mojave Desert.
Discovery's homecoming to Southern California coastline where it headed inland. Twin sonic booms were heard in Los Angeles
A throng of military families and their children who gathered at a viewing spot at Edwards clapped and cheered as Discovery's wheels touched the concrete runway.
NASA prefers Florida landings because the cross-country ferry trip, which involves transporting the shuttle atop a modified jumbo jet, costs $1.8 million and takes more than a week.
Thunderstorms also delayed the beginning of Discovery's mission. The shuttle blasted off Aug. 28 and logged 5.7 million miles.
post-landing news briefing, space shuttle launch integration manager Mike Moses said Discovery performed almost flawlessly in space.
Discovery and crew, led by commander Rick Sturckow, dropped off tons of supplies and equipment, including a $5 million treadmill named after Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert. That was his consolation prize after pushing for naming rights to a new space station room. Stormy weather made it too risky to bring Discovery back to its home port hitching a ride back was Buzz Lightyear. The 12-inch action figure from the movie "Toy Story" flew up in mid-2008 as part of an educational program. The doll will return to Walt Disney World for a tickertape parade at the beginning of October QC
Discovery swooped through the sky, breaking through clouds, and touched down at Edwards Air Force Base north of Los Angeles an hour before sunset, ending its delivery trip to the international space station.
"Welcome home, Discovery," Mission Control radioed. "Congratulations on an extremely successful mission."
Stormy weather made it too risky to bring Discovery back conditions were even worse Friday. So flight director Richard Jones opted for the clear flying conditions of the Mojave Desert.
Discovery's homecoming to Southern California coastline where it headed inland. Twin sonic booms were heard in Los Angeles
A throng of military families and their children who gathered at a viewing spot at Edwards clapped and cheered as Discovery's wheels touched the concrete runway.
NASA prefers Florida landings because the cross-country ferry trip, which involves transporting the shuttle atop a modified jumbo jet, costs $1.8 million and takes more than a week.
Thunderstorms also delayed the beginning of Discovery's mission. The shuttle blasted off Aug. 28 and logged 5.7 million miles.
post-landing news briefing, space shuttle launch integration manager Mike Moses said Discovery performed almost flawlessly in space.
Discovery and crew, led by commander Rick Sturckow, dropped off tons of supplies and equipment, including a $5 million treadmill named after Comedy Central's Stephen Colbert. That was his consolation prize after pushing for naming rights to a new space station room. Stormy weather made it too risky to bring Discovery back to its home port hitching a ride back was Buzz Lightyear. The 12-inch action figure from the movie "Toy Story" flew up in mid-2008 as part of an educational program. The doll will return to Walt Disney World for a tickertape parade at the beginning of October QC