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Atlantis Detours, Lands in Calif.

Space shuttle, 7 astronauts return after Fla. weather forces change of plans

By M. Morris,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 22, 2007 7:28 PM CDT
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(Newser) – The Atlantis space shuttle landed in California this afternoon, touching down at Edwards Air Force Base after weather forced a 1-day delay and a detour from Florida. The craft's signature twin sonic booms reverberated from San Diego to Los Angeles before the shuttle glided to a stop in the Mojave Desert, returning from its 2-week mission with seven astronauts aboard.

On the International Space Station, the astronauts installed new equipment and took four spacewalks, including one to secure a thermal blanket on the shuttle that had peeled back during the launch. Among the crew was Sunita "Suni" Williams, who set a record for a woman in space with her 195-day stint. Her replacement is expected to spend 4 months aloft.

The space shuttle Atlantis lands at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Friday, June 22, 2007. Uncooperative weather at Kennedy Space Center forced flight controllers to pass on a landing attempt in Florida. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
The space shuttle Atlantis lands at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Friday, June 22, 2007. Uncooperative weather at Kennedy Space Center forced flight controllers to pass on a landing attempt in Florida....   (Associated Press)
In this image released by NASA, the space shuttle Atlantis lands at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Friday, June 22, 2007. Uncooperative weather at Kennedy Space Center forced flight controllers to pass on a landing attempt in Florida. (AP Photo/NASA)
In this image released by NASA, the space shuttle Atlantis lands at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Friday, June 22, 2007. Uncooperative weather at Kennedy Space Center forced flight controllers to pass...   (Associated Press)
%u2018s landing attempt in Florida. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)
%u2018s landing attempt in Florida. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)   (Associated Press)
Clouds gather over the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, June 22, 2007. NASA managers kept close tabs on the weather Friday as thunderstorms and low clouds threatened to prevent space shuttle Atlantis and its seven astronauts from landing after a trip to...
Clouds gather over the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Friday, June 22, 2007. NASA managers kept close tabs on the weather Friday as thunderstorms and low...   (Associated Press)
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NASA • Sunita Williams • astronauts • space shuttle • Edwards AFB • International Space Station • Atlantis Space Shuttle • space shuttle landing

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