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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Space shuttle touches down safely | Space shuttle touches down safely |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The space shuttle Endeavour has returned to Earth after an eventful mission to repair parts of the International Space Station (ISS). | The space shuttle Endeavour has returned to Earth after an eventful mission to repair parts of the International Space Station (ISS). |
| The shuttle's landing site was switched from Florida to Edwards Air Force Base in California due to bad weather. | The shuttle's landing site was switched from Florida to Edwards Air Force Base in California due to bad weather. |
| The shuttle touched down safely at around 1325 local time (2125GMT). | The shuttle touched down safely at around 1325 local time (2125GMT). |
| The mission had been extended by a day because Nasa wanted the shuttle's crew to make repairs to a machine which makes drinking water from urine. | The mission had been extended by a day because Nasa wanted the shuttle's crew to make repairs to a machine which makes drinking water from urine. |
| Lost tool bag | Lost tool bag |
| The shuttle, with a crew of seven, was piloted by Commander Christopher Ferguson. | The shuttle, with a crew of seven, was piloted by Commander Christopher Ferguson. |
| "Welcome back. That was a great way to finish a fantastic flight," Mission Control radioed. | "Welcome back. That was a great way to finish a fantastic flight," Mission Control radioed. |
| "And we're happy to be here in California," Commander Ferguson replied. | "And we're happy to be here in California," Commander Ferguson replied. |
| Earlier on Sunday a Russian space vessel docked with the ISS, delivering food, clothes and Christmas presents. | Earlier on Sunday a Russian space vessel docked with the ISS, delivering food, clothes and Christmas presents. |
| Russian flight engineer Yury Lonchakov remotely guided the Progress spaceship to a docking port after an automated system failed. | Russian flight engineer Yury Lonchakov remotely guided the Progress spaceship to a docking port after an automated system failed. |
| Endeavour's mission saw the shuttle and its crew spend 16 days in space.The mission saw one astronaut lose her toolbag in space | Endeavour's mission saw the shuttle and its crew spend 16 days in space.The mission saw one astronaut lose her toolbag in space |
| The equipment to provide drinking water from astronauts' urine had failed several times since it was delivered two weeks ago. | The equipment to provide drinking water from astronauts' urine had failed several times since it was delivered two weeks ago. |
| During four spacewalks, the crew serviced the station's two Solar Alpha Rotary Joints, which allow its solar arrays to track the sun, and installed new hardware that will support future assembly missions. | During four spacewalks, the crew serviced the station's two Solar Alpha Rotary Joints, which allow its solar arrays to track the sun, and installed new hardware that will support future assembly missions. |
| The work was slower than expected because astronaut Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper lost her tool bag during the first spacewalk. | The work was slower than expected because astronaut Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper lost her tool bag during the first spacewalk. |
| Inside the station, ISS commander Mike Fincke supervised work on the malfunctioning water regeneration system which distils, filters, ionises and oxidises wastewater - including urine - into fresh water. | Inside the station, ISS commander Mike Fincke supervised work on the malfunctioning water regeneration system which distils, filters, ionises and oxidises wastewater - including urine - into fresh water. |
| Earlier, the system's centrifuge - needed to separate solid particles from liquid as part of the distillation process - became unbalanced as it spun and shut down before the intended four-hour cycle was complete. MISSION TASKS Repair and servicing of the space station solar arraysInstallation of new crew quarters and water systemDrop off astronaut Sandra Magnus and pick up Greg Chamitoff New water system for ISS | Earlier, the system's centrifuge - needed to separate solid particles from liquid as part of the distillation process - became unbalanced as it spun and shut down before the intended four-hour cycle was complete. MISSION TASKS Repair and servicing of the space station solar arraysInstallation of new crew quarters and water systemDrop off astronaut Sandra Magnus and pick up Greg Chamitoff New water system for ISS |
| Nasa needs the new system operating before it can expand the station's crew from three to six people, which is currently scheduled for May 2009. To that end, the shuttle mission also delivered additional sleeping quarters, a second toilet and an exercise device. | Nasa needs the new system operating before it can expand the station's crew from three to six people, which is currently scheduled for May 2009. To that end, the shuttle mission also delivered additional sleeping quarters, a second toilet and an exercise device. |
| The extended mission meant Endeavour's crew celebrated Thanksgiving in space and did not leave the station until Friday. | The extended mission meant Endeavour's crew celebrated Thanksgiving in space and did not leave the station until Friday. |
| Endeavour's mission was the fourth and final orbiter mission of 2008. | |
| The orbiter will now be transported from California to Florida's Kennedy Space Center on the back of a modified 747 jumbo jet. | |
| Once at Kennedy, the shuttle will be separated from the aircraft to begin immediate processing for its next flight, targeted for May 2009. | Once at Kennedy, the shuttle will be separated from the aircraft to begin immediate processing for its next flight, targeted for May 2009. |
| Next up to the station will be the Discovery shuttle in February. It will deliver the final pair of solar arrays, which will be installed on the starboard end of the station's truss, or backbone. | Next up to the station will be the Discovery shuttle in February. It will deliver the final pair of solar arrays, which will be installed on the starboard end of the station's truss, or backbone. |