This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/8062773.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Atlantis ready to return to Earth Bad weather delays shuttle return
(about 7 hours later)
Astronauts aboard space shuttle Atlantis are preparing to return to Earth after an ambitious and risky mission to re-fit the Hubble telescope. Nasa has delayed the return to Earth of space shuttle Atlantis as a result of bad weather at the landing site.
There are two chances to land on Friday: one at 1500 BST (1000 EDT) and a second at 1639 BST (1139 EDT). The shuttle will miss Friday's first scheduled landing opportunity in Florida, at 1500 BST (1000 EDT).
If bad weather scuppers either of those opportunities, the shuttle will try to land on Saturday in Florida or at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The agency is now set to decide whether to try for the second chance at 1639 BST (1139 EDT).
Astronauts aboard Atlantis are preparing to return to Earth after an ambitious and risky mission to re-fit the Hubble telescope.
If the cloudy skies and stormy weather scupper both of Friday's opportunities, the shuttle will try to land on Saturday in Florida or at Edwards Air Force Base, California.
The mission was intended to give a new lease of life to Hubble.The mission was intended to give a new lease of life to Hubble.
The orbiting observatory is regarded as one of the most important scientific tools ever built.The orbiting observatory is regarded as one of the most important scientific tools ever built.
The fifth and final mission to service Hubble has been hailed as a great success.The fifth and final mission to service Hubble has been hailed as a great success.
Over five spacewalks, astronauts installed new instruments and thermal blankets, repaired two existing instruments, replaced gyroscopes and batteries.Over five spacewalks, astronauts installed new instruments and thermal blankets, repaired two existing instruments, replaced gyroscopes and batteries.
The only disappointment was the failure to restore the high resolution channel (one of three) on Hubble's main camera - the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS).The only disappointment was the failure to restore the high resolution channel (one of three) on Hubble's main camera - the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS).
Cloudy skies and stormy weather could yet pose a problem for Friday's landing attempts, Nasa has said.
The shuttle has enough supplies to remain in orbit until Monday.The shuttle has enough supplies to remain in orbit until Monday.
The US space agency has cleared Atlantis for its fiery re-entry into Earth's atmosphere following in-flight inspections of its heat shield by the crew.The US space agency has cleared Atlantis for its fiery re-entry into Earth's atmosphere following in-flight inspections of its heat shield by the crew.
The Hubble telescope was released from the shuttle's robotic arm on Tuesday.The Hubble telescope was released from the shuttle's robotic arm on Tuesday.