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Endeavour shuttle lands on Earth Endeavour shuttle lands on Earth
(10 minutes later)
Space shuttle Endeavour has landed in Florida after a two-week mission to the International Space Station (ISS) was cut short by Hurricane Dean.Space shuttle Endeavour has landed in Florida after a two-week mission to the International Space Station (ISS) was cut short by Hurricane Dean.
Nasa had feared that mission control in Houston would have to be evacuated if the storm lurched towards Texas. Nasa had feared that mission control in Houston would have to be evacuated if the storm lurched towards Texas, but in the end, the facility was not affected.
The US space agency also opted not to repair a 9cm (3.5in) gouge in the shuttle's underside. The space agency also opted not to repair a 9cm (3.5in) gouge in the shuttle's underside before its return.
The damage, caused by a chunk of insulating foam hitting the shuttle, appears to have posed no problem. But the damage appears to have posed no problem to Endeavour on re-entry.
Endeavour made a perfect touch down at Kennedy Space Center at 1732 BST (1232 EDT). The US shuttle made a perfect touch down at Kennedy Space Center at 1732 BST (1232 EDT).
The shuttle astronauts carried out construction work on the ISS, made repairs and delivered vital supplies to the space station crew. The astronauts spent 13 days in space on a mission that spanned 3.5 million miles.
US space agency officials had feared that mission control in Houston would have to be evacuated if the storm lurched towards Texas. Their aims were to continue construction work on the ISS, replace a faulty space station gyroscope and deliver vital supplies to crew members on the orbiting outpost.
But the category five hurricane did not affect the Johnson Space Center facility on the US gulf coast.
At 1625 BST (1125 EDT) on Tuesday, Commander Scott Kelly and Pilot Charles Hobaugh fired the shuttle's engines for a four-minute de-orbit burn, which sets in motion Endeavour's descent to the ground.At 1625 BST (1125 EDT) on Tuesday, Commander Scott Kelly and Pilot Charles Hobaugh fired the shuttle's engines for a four-minute de-orbit burn, which sets in motion Endeavour's descent to the ground.
How the shuttle returns The weather forecast for Tuesday at Cape Canaveral was relatively dry and any possible showers were not expected to be a concern, Nasa said. How the shuttle returns On the way down, Endeavour will reach speeds of up to 30 times the speed of sound and its underside is exposed to temperatures of 1,649C (3,000F).
The five-man, two-woman crew was set to awake at 0936 BST 0436 EDT, leaving around four hours for final preparations before the shuttle attempts re-entry into Earth's atmosphere.
On the way down, Endeavour will reach speeds of up to 30 times the speed of sound and its underside is exposed to temperatures of 1,649C (3,000F).
Nasa officials had already decided that a hole in Endeavour's underside would not be repaired before the return.Nasa officials had already decided that a hole in Endeavour's underside would not be repaired before the return.
This image of Hurricane Dean was captured from the shuttleEngineers had been worried that the 9cm (3.5in) gash could lead to structural damage on re-entry, but extensive tests concluded it should pose no problem. Engineers had been worried the 9cm (3.5in) gash could lead to structural damage on re-entering the Earth's atmosphere, but extensive tests concluded it should pose no problem.
During launch on 8 August, a chunk of insulating foam hit the shuttle, creating the square gouge.During launch on 8 August, a chunk of insulating foam hit the shuttle, creating the square gouge.
Foam damage has been a major concern for Nasa since the Columbia disaster in 2003 when a briefcase-sized chunk of foam insulation broke off during launch and pierced the shuttle's wing.Foam damage has been a major concern for Nasa since the Columbia disaster in 2003 when a briefcase-sized chunk of foam insulation broke off during launch and pierced the shuttle's wing.
This caused the shuttle to disintegrate on re-entry into the atmosphere, killing all seven crew.This caused the shuttle to disintegrate on re-entry into the atmosphere, killing all seven crew.