Space shuttle’s landing in question, bad weather expected on both US coasts Sunday night

Space shuttle landing in question, poor forecast

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Growing slightly more optimistic, NASA pressed ahead with a Sunday night landing for space shuttle Endeavour, even though poor weather on both coasts threatened to scuttle any touchdown attempts.

Endeavour and its crew of six are returning from the International Space Station, which was hit by computer trouble that triggered temporary communication blackouts Sunday.

In an unusual double weather whammy for NASA, rain and clouds were expected at both Kennedy Space Center and Edwards Air Force Base in California, the backup landing site.

“We’re going to play it by ear,” said flight director Norm Knight, who had the final say on where and when to end Endeavour’s two-week mission. “It’s going to go down to the wire.”

Late Sunday afternoon, Knight told the flight controllers that he’s seen worse forecasts and urged them not to be too depressed about the situation. Toward that end, he ordered that the radar weather images be stricken from the screens at Mission Control.

By nightfall, optimism was growing ever so slightly. The rain seemed to be staying away from Kennedy, and the clouds were thin and broken.

“Let’s keep our fingers crossed,” said shuttle commander George Zamka.

While the weather was expected to worsen at Kennedy on Monday night, drastic improvement was on the horizon for Edwards. NASA was grateful for at least that, considering the third-string backup site, White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, was also expected to have dismal weather Monday.

Endeavour could remain in orbit until Tuesday, if necessary.

Zamka and his crew delivered and installed a new room and big bay window at the space station. The successful construction job marked the virtual completion of the 11-year-old orbiting outpost.

Four more shuttle missions remain to haul up science experiments, supplies and spare parts.

Over at the space station, meanwhile, the five residents ended up working on what should have been a day off.

The station’s three command and control computers kept malfunctioning throughout the morning. The mysterious problem disrupted communication between the crew and Mission Control. Until full contact was restored in late afternoon, the astronauts had to make do without e-mail and their Internet Protocol phone.

Flight controllers suspect the trouble may be related to computer software in Europe’s Columbus laboratory.

To make up for all the inconvenience, Mission Control is giving the crew Wednesday off.

On the Net:

NASA: www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html