NASA Space Shuttle Endeavour cleared for landing today

Mission managers at NASA have now cleared Space Shuttle Endeavour for landing today; the deccsion for the landing has not come lightly as mission managers had too look at detailed reports of the weather. The seven members of STS-118 are now back onboard Endeavour after their nine day stay on the international space station.

The crew of Endeavour has now completed all the systems and engine tests, they have also stowed all equipment and have undergone a 30 minute deorbit briefing. The first landing opportunity for Space Shuttle Endeavour will be on Tuesday is at 12:32 p.m at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, the deorbit burn will take place at 11:25 a.m. Endeavour does have a second re-entry window, which is at 2:06 p.m with the deorbit burn taking place at 1 p.m.

Mission managers have been keeping a close eye on Hurricane Dean as it is now moving westward to the Caribbean Sea, so hopefully it will not cause any threat to the landing. Light rain is forecast so it should not prove a problem for the sensitive heat shield tiles.