Space shuttle makes ‘beautiful landing’

Battered launch pad
Although the mission itself unfolded almost flawlessly, Discovery left behind a battered launch pad on May 31. About 5,300 bricks flew off the flame trench when Discovery blasted away, most likely because they were not attached properly to the underlying concrete wall when the pad was built in the 1960s for the Apollo moon shots.

NASA managers are confident the launch pad can be fixed in time for the next shuttle flight in October, by Atlantis to the Hubble Space Telescope.

The next time a shuttle flies to the space station, now three-quarters complete, isn't until November. That's because NASA needs to have a shuttle ready to rush to Atlantis' aid in case of serious damage to its thermal shielding. Atlantis' astronauts will not be able to get from Hubble to the space station for shelter.

NASA had no such rescue plan in place when Columbia took off in 2003 on a solo-flying research mission. In any event, mission managers had no idea Columbia's left wing was severely damaged at liftoff, and the shuttle shattered during re-entry. All seven on board were killed.

Shades of Columbia briefly surfaced Friday when Discovery's astronauts spotted something floating away from their spaceship. It turned out to be a little metal clip that broke off the rudder, and engineers ascertained within just four hours that its absence posed no danger for Discovery's re-entry.

The three space station residents watched Discovery's smooth landing on live TV transmitted from Mission Control. Astronaut Gregory Chamitoff, who took Reisman's place on the station and is just starting a six-month mission, called it "an awesome sight."

"Before you know it, you'll be catching your own ride home," Mission Control said.

Ten shuttle flights remain before the fleet is retired in 2010: One is headed for Hubble, and all the rest have the space station as their destination.

Launch director Mike Leinbach said he's encouraging his team to take time off this summer, since there are no flights, and rest up for a busy fall. The shuttle work force finds itself in the unusual position of scheduling summer vacations and actually being able to take them on time, he said.

"It's a good feeling for us," Leinbach said, smiling.

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