Cape Canaveral:
Shuttle Discovery and its astronauts returned safely to Earth on Tuesday after making a rare flyover of America's heartland to wrap up their 15-day, 9.7 million kilometre journey to the International Space Station.
The touchdown was delayed by rain and fog that dissipated as the sun rose, allowing Mission Control to take advantage of the morning's second landing opportunity.
Discovery swooped through a hazy sky before landing on the Kennedy Space Centre runway. NASA briefly considered bringing the shuttle in to the opposite end of the strip because of puffy clouds, but the glare from the sun was too great and flight controllers stuck to the original plan.
In the end, Commander Alan Poindexter made what appeared to be a smooth touchdown, a day late because of rain.
"Welcome home," Mission Control said, radioing congratulations on the entire flight.
"It was a great mission. We enjoyed it," Poindexter said. "And we're glad that the International Space Station is stocked up again."
The touchdown was delayed by rain and fog that dissipated as the sun rose, allowing Mission Control to take advantage of the morning's second landing opportunity.
Discovery swooped through a hazy sky before landing on the Kennedy Space Centre runway. NASA briefly considered bringing the shuttle in to the opposite end of the strip because of puffy clouds, but the glare from the sun was too great and flight controllers stuck to the original plan.
In the end, Commander Alan Poindexter made what appeared to be a smooth touchdown, a day late because of rain.
"Welcome home," Mission Control said, radioing congratulations on the entire flight.
"It was a great mission. We enjoyed it," Poindexter said. "And we're glad that the International Space Station is stocked up again."
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
