New Delhi: Space shuttle Atlantis seven astronauts landed safely at the Edwards Air Force Base, California at 0119 hrs (IST) on Saturday after a two-week mission to the international space station.
Atlantis crossed the Pacific and glided to a stop on a runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California. NASA managers had hoped to land the shuttle in Florida, but bad weather forced controllers to abandon that plan.
Atlantis' return from NASA's first manned flight of the year was marked by its trademark twin sonic booms that were heard from San Diego to Los Angeles.
After deploying its parachute, the shuttle came to rest on the concrete runway under mostly sunny skies.
Earlier, the shuttle was directed for a landing at the backup location after rain and clouds over Florida ruled out Kennedy Space Center.
"You have no idea how it feels like, it's much better than winning the world cup perhaps. Years of work has gone into it and it's an overwhelming feeling," NASA scientist Amitabh Ghosh told CNN-IBN.
The mission control at NASA gave the go ahead for the space shuttle to enter atmosphere and it began its de-orbit burn 0013 IST for an expected 0119 IST touchdown at Edwards, California.
"We are very happy and will now start preparing for the next mission that will be in August," Project Manager, ISS Shirish Patel told CNN-IBN.
Patel also said the astronauts will take at least 30 minutes to get out of their orange space suits and will come out of the shuttle then.
Rain showers in the vicinity of the Kennedy Space Centre were the reason for the wave off of the landing attempts there as mission managers shifted the landing to California.
"It feels better than winning the World Cup", said Project Manager, ISS Shirish Patel.
The landing in California would cost $1.7 million and take up to 10 days to get the shuttle home to Florida aboard a jumbo jet.
Source : http://www.ibnlive.com/news/sci-tech/06_2007/atlantis-fires-deorbit-begins-descent-43433.html
Atlantis crossed the Pacific and glided to a stop on a runway at Edwards Air Force Base in California. NASA managers had hoped to land the shuttle in Florida, but bad weather forced controllers to abandon that plan.
Atlantis' return from NASA's first manned flight of the year was marked by its trademark twin sonic booms that were heard from San Diego to Los Angeles.
After deploying its parachute, the shuttle came to rest on the concrete runway under mostly sunny skies.
Earlier, the shuttle was directed for a landing at the backup location after rain and clouds over Florida ruled out Kennedy Space Center.
"You have no idea how it feels like, it's much better than winning the world cup perhaps. Years of work has gone into it and it's an overwhelming feeling," NASA scientist Amitabh Ghosh told CNN-IBN.
The mission control at NASA gave the go ahead for the space shuttle to enter atmosphere and it began its de-orbit burn 0013 IST for an expected 0119 IST touchdown at Edwards, California.
"We are very happy and will now start preparing for the next mission that will be in August," Project Manager, ISS Shirish Patel told CNN-IBN.
Patel also said the astronauts will take at least 30 minutes to get out of their orange space suits and will come out of the shuttle then.
Rain showers in the vicinity of the Kennedy Space Centre were the reason for the wave off of the landing attempts there as mission managers shifted the landing to California.
"It feels better than winning the World Cup", said Project Manager, ISS Shirish Patel.
The landing in California would cost $1.7 million and take up to 10 days to get the shuttle home to Florida aboard a jumbo jet.
Source : http://www.ibnlive.com/news/sci-tech/06_2007/atlantis-fires-deorbit-begins-descent-43433.html