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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Shuttle undocks for early return | Shuttle undocks for early return |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The space shuttle Endeavour has begun its return to Earth a day early, amid fears that Hurricane Dean could threaten Mission Control in Houston. | The space shuttle Endeavour has begun its return to Earth a day early, amid fears that Hurricane Dean could threaten Mission Control in Houston. |
| Astronauts made a final inspection before undocking from the International Space Station (ISS). | Astronauts made a final inspection before undocking from the International Space Station (ISS). |
| On Saturday, the space agency shortened a spacewalk by astronauts by two hours so they could prepare to leave. | On Saturday, the space agency shortened a spacewalk by astronauts by two hours so they could prepare to leave. |
| Nasa wants to avoid any disruption to flight operations, which are supported from Johnson Space Center in Houston. | Nasa wants to avoid any disruption to flight operations, which are supported from Johnson Space Center in Houston. |
| On Sunday, any threat from Hurricane Dean looked unlikely, but mission managers did not want to chance it. | |
| Proceed with caution | Proceed with caution |
| "There is still uncertainty with a storm like this, but right now it's looking pretty good from our standpoint," said John Shannon, chairman of the mission management team. | "There is still uncertainty with a storm like this, but right now it's looking pretty good from our standpoint," said John Shannon, chairman of the mission management team. |
| "The threat is certainly somewhat less than it was the last two days." | "The threat is certainly somewhat less than it was the last two days." |
| The shuttle was docked to the ISS for nine daysOn Sunday, in preparation for Endeavour's fiery descent through the atmosphere, astronauts surveyed the wings and nose, using a laser-tipped boom to hunt for possible micrometeorite damage. | The shuttle was docked to the ISS for nine daysOn Sunday, in preparation for Endeavour's fiery descent through the atmosphere, astronauts surveyed the wings and nose, using a laser-tipped boom to hunt for possible micrometeorite damage. |
| They were searching for any holes or cracks that might have occurred while the shuttle was docked to the ISS. | They were searching for any holes or cracks that might have occurred while the shuttle was docked to the ISS. |
| One of Endeavour's cockpit windows was nicked, in fact, by a micrometeorite or tiny speck of space junk during its nine days of joint flight with the space station. | One of Endeavour's cockpit windows was nicked, in fact, by a micrometeorite or tiny speck of space junk during its nine days of joint flight with the space station. |
| Nasa expects to have all the latest laser data analysed by Monday evening. | Nasa expects to have all the latest laser data analysed by Monday evening. |
| 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. |
| Brushing your hair is one of many challenges in orbitEngineers 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. | Brushing your hair is one of many challenges in orbitEngineers 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. |
| 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. |
| Endeavour's mission, scheduled for 14 days, was to continue the assembly of the ISS. | Endeavour's mission, scheduled for 14 days, was to continue the assembly of the ISS. |