Nov. 30, 2008 -- Space shuttle Endeavour and its seven astronauts safely returned to Earth on Sunday, taking a detour to sunny California after storms hit the main landing strip in Florida. Endeavour touched down at 4:25 p.m. EST, wrapping up a 16-day trip that left the International Space Station freshly remodeled and capable of housing bigger crews. ASA ordered the detour after dangerously high wind and a stormy sky prevented a Florida landing. With the weather at Kennedy Space Center looking no better for Monday, Mission Control opted for its backup landing site. "Welcome back. That was a great way to finish a fantastic flight," Mission Control radioed. Related Content: Discovery Space: International Space University The International Space Station at 10 Howstuffworks.com: Life Aboard the ISS "And we're happy to be here in California," shuttle commander Christopher Ferguson replied. Congratulations also came down from the space station. "Wow," said skipper Mike Fincke, who watched the landing broadcast live. Returning home from a six-month mission was former space station resident Gregory Chamitoff, who had rocketed away from the planet at the end of May. The space shuttle's journey, short by comparison, spanned 6.6 million miles and 250 orbits of Earth. More NewsMouse Cloned From Long-Frozen CellResearchers create a mouse from a long-frozen cell. Will the mammoth be next?'Bubble' Could Protect AstronautsScientists say a "bubble" around a Mars-bound spaceship could protect astronauts.Big Reduction of Snowmobiles in Yellowstone ProposedA new plan would cut snowmobile use by 40 percent in Yellowstone.Microbes: Fuel of the Future?A reddish South American microbe is literally breathing fuel, say scientists.DNA Links Remains to Steve FossetDNA tests on two bones found in California confirm they are those of Steve Fossett.Women Carry More Bacteria Than MenSome bacteria prefer women, suggests a new study. But why?Ancient 'Water Monster' Facing ExtinctionA foot-long salamander that was a key part of Aztec legend is threatened by extinction.Grand Canyon's Youth ConfirmedThe Grand Canyon is millions of years younger than previously thought, argue geologists.My Take: E-Voting Not User FriendlyOpinion: Electronic voting machines don't always capture the intent of voters.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.At 40, Brain and Body SlowThe part of the brain in charge of motion starts a gradual slide in middle age.Spiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates. |
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