Overhaul Awaits Endeavour as Mission Ends
The space shuttle Endeavour coasted to a landing Wednesday after a 10-day science mission, completing its last journey before it undergoes a $40-million overhaul for the first space-station assembly flight in late 1997.
During the voyage, the six shuttle astronauts tested a giant inflatable foil antenna and a satellite designed to steady itself in space.
“Overall, it was a great mission,” shuttle commander John Casper said after the on-time landing at sunrise.
Endeavour will undergo modifications for the space-station assembly flight. The work will be carried out at Rockwell International Corp.’s plant in Palmdale, Calif.
Space shuttles will be the chief means of lifting construction materials and supplies into orbit for the $30-billion international space station, which is planned for completion in 2002.
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