Backup Site In CA May Get Guests From Outer Space

Space shuttle Endeavour and its six-member STS-130 crew on are expected to return to Earth late on Sunday, Feb. 21. NASA managers will evaluate weather conditions at KSC in before permitting Endeavour to land after its 14-day mission.

STS-130 Mission Patch

Sunday landing opportunities at Kennedy are at 10:16 p.m. and 11:51 p.m. EST. There are additional opportunities at 1:20 a.m. and 2:55 a.m. EST Monday at Edwards Air Force Base, the primary backup landing site.

Forecasts for Florida are currently predicting showers within 30 miles of the Shuttle Landing Facility as well as cloud cover down to about 6,000 ft.  Both of these factors violate NASA's landing rules. Low clouds and rain are also predicted at Edwards AFB, though chances are better that weather will improve enough for landing. 

File Photo of Space Shuttle Discovery on NASA's 747

A landing in CA would require a $1 million trip on a specially-equipped NASA 747 back to home base at KSC.  The shuttle has no engines for atmospheric flight and glides back down from orbit, giving the flight crew only one chance to make a successful landing.

FMI: www.NASA.gov