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'Mystery object' delays shuttle 'Mystery object' delays shuttle
(10 minutes later)
The US space agency's Atlantis shuttle has had its Wednesday landing postponed after an unidentified object was seen floating near the vehicle.The US space agency's Atlantis shuttle has had its Wednesday landing postponed after an unidentified object was seen floating near the vehicle.
The delay will give engineers an opportunity to investigate the incident - and time for poor weather forecast at the Florida landing strip to pass.The delay will give engineers an opportunity to investigate the incident - and time for poor weather forecast at the Florida landing strip to pass.
"The mission management team has decided to keep Atlantis 24 more hours in orbit," a Nasa spokesman said."The mission management team has decided to keep Atlantis 24 more hours in orbit," a Nasa spokesman said.
Atlantis is returning from the space station where it attached solar wings.Atlantis is returning from the space station where it attached solar wings.
The first opportunity for a touchdown at the Kennedy Space Center is now 0615 EDT (1015 GMT) on Thursday.The first opportunity for a touchdown at the Kennedy Space Center is now 0615 EDT (1015 GMT) on Thursday.
The mystery object appears on video taken by a shuttle camera. It has been described as small and dark, and coming possibly from the ship's payload bay.The mystery object appears on video taken by a shuttle camera. It has been described as small and dark, and coming possibly from the ship's payload bay.
It appeared as astronauts were testing the vehicle's jets in preparation for a landing. It was noticed as astronauts were testing the vehicle's jets in preparation for the return to Earth.
Mission Control has told the astronauts on Atlantis to hold off packing away the shuttle's robot arm and television antenna in case further inspections are required.Mission Control has told the astronauts on Atlantis to hold off packing away the shuttle's robot arm and television antenna in case further inspections are required.
"The question is: what is it? Is it something benign, or is it something more critical we should pay attention to?" said Wayne Hale, the space shuttle programme manager."The question is: what is it? Is it something benign, or is it something more critical we should pay attention to?" said Wayne Hale, the space shuttle programme manager.
"We want to make sure we're safe before committing to that critical journey through the atmosphere.""We want to make sure we're safe before committing to that critical journey through the atmosphere."
Even before the unexplained object came to the attention of engineers, Nasa was considering a change to the scheduled landing time because of unfavourable weather forecasts at Kennedy.Even before the unexplained object came to the attention of engineers, Nasa was considering a change to the scheduled landing time because of unfavourable weather forecasts at Kennedy.
Atlantis is heading home from a construction visit to the International Space Station. The orbiter undocked on Sunday to make way for a Soyuz craft that is heading to the platform with a new crew and the first female space tourist, Anousheh Ansari.Atlantis is heading home from a construction visit to the International Space Station. The orbiter undocked on Sunday to make way for a Soyuz craft that is heading to the platform with a new crew and the first female space tourist, Anousheh Ansari.
The US businesswoman is expected at the station at 0524 GMT on Wednesday.The US businesswoman is expected at the station at 0524 GMT on Wednesday.