Space shuttle Endeavour lands safely after 16-day mission

US: The shuttle Endeavour descended safely to Earth on Friday, ending a successful 16-day assembly mission to the International Space Station (ISS) with the final piece of Japan’s Kibo science laboratory.

The seven US, Canadian and Japanese astronauts aboard Endeavour touched down at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 10:48 am (1448 GMT).

There were concerns that early morning thunder storms, coastal rain showers and fog near the Florida landing site might force shuttle commander Mark Polanski and his crew to postpone their return until Saturday.

However, the stormy conditions improved after daybreak, allowing Endeavour to begin its high-speed descent to Earth. Endeavour’s crew includes Koichi Wakata, Japan’s first long-duration astronaut. He returned to Earth after 138 days in space, spent mostly aboard the space station carrying out experiments in Kibo.

“Welcome home, congratulations on a superb mission from beginning to end,” said mission control, as the shuttle rolled to a stop on the Florida runway under sunny skies. “That’s what it’s all about,” said Polansky, who shared the controls with pilot Doug Hurley for the landing after a “fantastic mission.”

“Wakata, adjusting to Earth’s gravity after more than four months of weightlessness, told reporters “I still feel a little shakey when I walk, but I’m feeling great.”

Houston, Monday, AFP