Off the I-15

Concerns about Hurricane Dean will force the space shuttle Endeavor down to Earth early but not to Edwards Air Force Base on Tuesday.

NASA officials canceled the call up of its Dryden Flight Research Center and Edwards Air Force Base to support a potential landing on Tuesday if weather in Florida prohibits touchdown there, according to a release from NASA. Endeavor’s first opportunity to land will be at 9:32 a.m. Pacific time on Tuesday in Florida with other times throughout the day.

Earlier on Monday, NASA activated Edwards to assist with a possible landing on Tuesday. NASA expressed concerned about crosswinds near the Kennedy Space Center in Florida nearing the 15-knot limit for a shuttle landing. However, the latest weather reports for Tuesday show acceptable landing weather, the release stated.

NASA decided to bring the shuttle home early because the approaching Hurricane Dean could potentially force the closure of the mission control center at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. The crew of Endeavor completed its assembly tasks to the International Space Station over the weekend, tested systems and engines that will be used for re-entry and landing on Monday, and packed up for the ride home.

If the shuttle does not land on Tuesday, Edwards could see a shuttle landing on Wednesday or Thursday.

Desert Dispatch reporters have been approved for media credentials at Edwards and hope to be on hand if the shuttle touches down in our back yard.

Aaron Aupperlee | Staff writer