SPACE.com -- Shuttle Atlantis Set to Land Friday in Florida

The STS-110 Atlantis crew offer farewells and hugs to the Expedition Four crew inside the Destiny module on April 17, 2002 hours before undocking.

STS-110 Atlantis commander Mike Bloomfield attaches a mission sticker to a locker wall in the Unity module before the shuttle undocks with the station on April 17, 2002.

A colorful view of shuttle Atlantis taken from the space station after undocking on April 17, 2002.

Space station Alpha as seen from Atlantis after the two ships undocked on April 17, 2002 during the STS-110 mission.

Atlantis Departs Station, Begins Two-Day Journey Home

Spacewalking Grandfathers Wrap Up Laundry List of Chores, Undocking Next

Station 'Railroad' Test Reveals Trouble but Remains on Track

STS-110 Mission Update Archive


	Shuttle Atlantis Set to Land Friday in Florida By Jim Banke Senior Producer, posted: 03:00 pm ET 18 April 2002

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Shuttle Atlantis is due to land at the Kennedy Space Center on Friday.

STS-110

For complete coverage of Atlantis' return to Earth just click here.

Touchdown could come as early as 12:26 p.m. EDT (1626 GMT), while a back up landing opportunity in Florida is available at 2:03 p.m. EDT (1803 GMT).

Weather forecasters predict nearly ideal conditions, with scattered clouds and light winds expected at the spaceport's three-mile (4.8-kilometer) long runway.

"It's looking pretty good. We have a 'go' forecast," flight director Leroy Cain said Thursday.

And because good weather is expected throughout the weekend over the Sunshine State, NASA managers say they will not prepare Edwards Air Force Base in California for a landing attempt on Friday.

That means the shuttle either lands in Florida on Friday or stays in space for at least another day.

If NASA managers must keep Atlantis in orbit an extra day, two Florida landing opportunities are available at 11:18 a.m. EDT (1518 GMT) and 12:53 p.m. EDT (1653 GMT). The two California landing opportunities at 2:24 p.m. EDT (1824 GMT) and at 3:59 p.m. EDT (1959 GMT).

In every case, the shuttle's braking rockets would be fired about an hour before landing to slow the vehicle just enough to fall out of orbit and begin an unpowered hypersonic glide through Earth's atmosphere.

Atlantis commander Mike Bloomfield, pilot Stephen Frick and mission specialists Ellen Ochoa, Rex Walheim, Jerry Ross, Steven Smith and Lee Morin spent Thursday packing up the shuttle for their homecoming, as well as testing the shuttle's landing systems.

The spaceplane's steering thrusters and hydraulic plumbing were successfully tested, and Atlantis' orbit was adjusted twice: once as part of a ground-based military radar test and the second time to make it easier for Atlantis to return home.

The shuttle undocked from the International Space Station on Wednesday after a week-long visit to install a new 13-ton truss segment to the top of the Destiny module and test a new "railroad" system that is built into the 44.2-foot (13.5-meter) girder.

Atlantis crewmembers staged four spacewalks to connect the truss to the frontier outpost and perform other assembly chores.

For the Expedition Four crew of Yuri Onufrienko, Dan Bursch and Carl Walz, the seven-member STS-110 crew were the first visitors they had received in space since taking up residence aboard the station in December.

"Godspeed and happy landings,'' Walz radioed the shuttle crew as Atlantis departed the area on Wednesday.

"You've been outstanding hosts,'' Bloomfield replied. "Thanks so much for taking care of us the last week. We'll keep you in our thoughts and prayers, and we'll see you on the ground in a couple of months.''

The Expedition Four team is scheduled to return to Earth in mid-June riding aboard Endeavour, which is NASA's next shuttle mission targeted to fly as early as May 30.

	New Galapagos Expedition Offers Lindblad Expeditions Explore the Galapagos and save up to 25% off select departure dates www.Expeditions.com

	BP There’s energy security in energy diversity.

	One-stop destination for the lowest domestic airfares Search all airlines, including Southwest now!

	HP ProLiant Servers The HP portfolio of servers-leading technology that respects the bottom line. Powerful ProLiant technology at a price that's worth a second look.