Rain, overcast sky delays space shuttle Discovery’s return, next shot at landing comes Tuesday

Rain, overcast sky delays space shuttle’s return

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Cloudy weather in Florida will keep space shuttle Discovery in orbit an extra day.

Mission Control decided to skip both landing opportunities Monday morning. The next attempt to bring Discovery and its seven astronauts home will come shortly after sunrise Tuesday.

On Monday, the sky cleared somewhat as the morning progressed, but some pockets of rain remained. Mission Control did not want to take any chances and called everything off.

Better weather is expected Tuesday. If clouds linger at the Kennedy Space Center, NASA will try for the backup landing site in California.

Discovery and its seven astronauts can remain in orbit until Wednesday. They’re wrapping up a two-week mission to the International Space Station.