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Record delays strand shuttle in orbit

By IRENE BROWN, UPI Science News

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., Dec. 6 (UPI) -- For an unprecedented third day, NASA managers postponed the space shuttle's return to Earth on Friday, hopeful that a slow-moving cold front will clear Central Florida overnight and enable Endeavour to land on Saturday.

Thick clouds and rainshowers socked in the Kennedy Space Center, where NASA had hoped to land Endeavour on Friday and wrap up the fifth and final shuttle mission of the year.

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Touchdown at the Florida spaceport is targeted for 2:37 p.m. EST Saturday, with backup landing opportunities in Florida as well as at the shuttle's West Coast landing site in California later in the day.

In addition to four shuttle astronauts, a three-member space station crew is aboard the spaceship returning home after a six-month stay in orbit. NASA wants to return the crew to the prime landing site in Florida, which is equipped for detailed post-landing medical tests on the long-duration fliers. Landing in Florida also saves the agency several weeks and about $1 million in transporation costs.

Although wrapped in thick clouds, flight director Wayne Hale had the crew prepare for a possible landing on Friday, although as mission commentator Rob Navias put it, "It would appear to be an effort in futility."

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Nevertheless, the crew closed the shuttle's payload bay doors, while ground control teams scrutinized weather reports in hopes of find a break in the clouds.

NASA decided to prepare the ship, having new information that fuel supplies would support both an entry attempt on Friday, as well as three attempts on Saturday and two on Sunday, if necessary.

In 21 years of flying the shuttle and 112 missions, NASA has never before had to postpone a shuttle landing for three days.

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