The astronauts completed a two-week mission that resulted in the virtual completion of the
“It’s great to be home. It was a great adventure,” said shuttle commander
Over the course of three spacewalks, Endeavour’s
crew installed the 16-ton Tranquility module and its cupola, big dome
with seven windows, giving the station a room with a view.
With the new components added, the orbiting
laboratory is approximately 90 percent complete by weight and 98
percent complete by volume.
At one point Sunday, flight controllers were
doubtful the weather would cooperate because of clouds and possibly
rain. But in the end threatening showers moved off shore and the cloud
cover broke. It was reminiscent of Endeavour’s launch. The two-week
mission got off to a late start
The mission, one of just five remaining for
three shuttles before the program ends later this year after a 29-year
run, came as the US space agency re-evaluates its future.
President
astronauts on the station last week to thank them for the job they did.
Under Obama’s proposed 2011 budget, the orbiting research station could
see its life extended by five years until 2020.
The space station, a joint project involving 16 countries, has cost around
But the same budget effectively abandoned a US plan
to send astronauts back to the moon by 2020. Constrained by soaring
deficits, the Obama White House submitted its 2011 budget to
to focus instead on developing commercial transport alternatives to
ferry astronauts to the space station after the shuttle program ends.
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(c) 2010, The Orlando Sentinel (Fla.).
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