Space Shuttle Endeavour returns to earth safely

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Source: CCTV.com | 12-01-2008 09:05

The US Space Shuttle, Endeavor, and its seven astronauts are now safely back on Earth.

Endeavor landed on Sunday at Edwards Air Force Base in California, after being diverted there by stormy weather at NASA's Florida spaceport. The spacecraft wrapped up its 16-day journey after renovating the international space station and enabling it to house bigger crews.

The U.S. space shuttle Endeavour deploys a parachute after touching down at Edwards Air Force Base in California November 30, 2008. Endeavour landed safely in California Sunday afternoon after a 16-day trip, as unfavorable weather  conditions in Florida prevented the shuttle from landing  in its home base in Cape Canaveral.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

NASA ordered the detour when dangerously high winds and a stormy sky prevented a Florida landing. With the weather at the Kennedy Space Center looking no better on Monday, Mission Control opted for its backup landing site.

The space shuttle's journey spanned 6.6 million miles and 250 orbits of Earth. The shuttle crew also conducted 4 spacewalks to clear metal shavings from the rotary joint of a solar wing at the international space station.