U.S. space shuttle Endeavour arrived back on Earth after a two-week mission to install the 16-ton Tranquility node and its attendant cupola on the International Space Station, which will give the facilitys crew more docking space for vehicles. The cupola includes windows for a sweeping view of Earth, the better for crew to manipulate a robotic arm used to help dock craft heading for the station. Endeavours was one of the few remaining missions before NASA plans on mothballing its shuttles by the end of the year.
– The shuttle Endeavour made a rare nighttime landing at
Kennedy
Space
Center Feb. 22, touching down at
10:20
pm EST. The vehicles six-member crew had successfully
completed a two-week mission to install the last major component of the
International Space Station, undocking from that orbital f…