SPACE SHUTTLE LANDING DELAYED BY HIGH WINDS.Byline: Daily News EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE Edwards Air Force Base, U.S. military installation, 301,000 acres (121,805 hectares), S Calif., NE of Lancaster; est. 1933. It is one of the largest air force bases in the United States and has the world's longest runway. - NASA NASA: see National Aeronautics and Space Administration. NASA in full National Aeronautics and Space Administration Independent U.S. officials kept space shuttle space shuttle, reusable U.S. space vehicle. Developed by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), it consists of a winged orbiter, two solid-rocket boosters, and an external tank. Discovery in orbit another day because of bad weather at both Kennedy Space Center Kennedy Space Center (Cape Canaveral) U.S. launch site for manned space missions. [U.S. Hist.: WB, So:562] See : Astronautics and the backup landing spot at Edwards Air Force Base. National Aeronautics and Space Administration National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), civilian agency of the U.S. federal government with the mission of conducting research and developing operational programs in the areas of space exploration, artificial satellites (see satellite, artificial), officials said the shuttle may land at Edwards this afternoon because Florida's weather was getting worse but Edwards' weather is expected to improve. ``Of course that all depends on the weather and is subject to change,'' NASA Johnson Space Center spokeswoman Diana Hunter said. If Discovery lands at Edwards today, it would be the first shuttle visit since 1996. NASA prefers to land at Kennedy, because it saves the time and expense of ferrying the shuttle cross-country atop a 747. Edwards will not be open to the general public to watch the landing, NASA officials said. Discovery is scheduled to land at either 1:59 p.m. or 3:35 p.m. if NASA decides to bring it down today at Edwards. NASA officials scrubbed Monday landing plans at Kennedy because of winds reaching 27 mph. But Edwards had scattered clouds at 6,000 feet - 2,000 feet lower than desired - as well as showers within 30 miles and some icing in clouds. The National Weather Service said Antelope Valley skies are expected to be clear today, with temperatures in the 70s. |
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