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Shuttle Returns to Earth

By the Associated Press

Posted Jul 31, 2009 10:14 AM CDT

(AP) – Space shuttle Endeavour and its seven astronauts are back on Earth. Endeavour landed at Florida's Kennedy Space Center this morning after a 16-day mission that saw the crew complete its major construction goals at the International Space Station. Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, back after 4½ months in space, says he can't wait to eat some sushi and see his wife and son.

Japan's space station lab got a porch for experiments during Endeavour's visit. The crew also installed fresh batteries and stockpiled big spare parts. And the voyage was eventful in other ways. The astronauts celebrated the 40th anniversary of the first moon landing with their own spacewalk. They also coped with a flooded toilet and an overheated air purifier.

The space shuttle Endeavour is seen in this July 20 photo shot from inside the International Space Station.
The space shuttle Endeavour is seen in this July 20 photo shot from inside the International Space Station.   ((AP Photo/NASA))
The International Space Station as seen from Shuttle Endeavour as the two spacecraft begin their relative separation Tuesday July 28, 2009.
The International Space Station as seen from Shuttle Endeavour as the two spacecraft begin their relative separation Tuesday July 28, 2009.   ((AP Photo/NASA))
The Space Shuttle Endeavour , as photographed by an Expedition 20 crew member on the International Space Station soon after undocking from the station July 28, 2009.
The Space Shuttle Endeavour , as photographed by an Expedition 20 crew member on the International Space Station soon after undocking from the station July 28, 2009.   (AP Photo/NASA)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
iamacidangel
Aug 2, 2009 10:01 AM CDT
I better start saving for an apartment on another planet.
cityeyes
Jul 31, 2009 8:33 AM CDT
It's inspiring to see what we can do as a people. Reaching into space like that is still incredible to me, even though we've been doing it for a while now.

Copyright 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. AP contributed to this report.

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