Blogger update: 3:35 p.m. Endeavour has accomplished another mission objective, deploying a small experimental Department of Defense satellite designed to test new solar cell technology. The satellite, measuring five-by-10 inches, can be seen at left just after a spring ejected it from the payload bay at a rate of 3.7 mph.
Shuttle Endeavour's protective heat shields are in excellent condition for a planned Sunday landing, NASA managers said today, though its final destination isn't yet certain. "From what we've seen on orbit in our inspections on this vehicle, Endeavour looks to me, and to the experts in fact, to be as clean or cleaner than any vehicle that we've flown," said LeRoy Cain, a senior shuttle program manager.
NASA will update landing forecasts and options during a briefing at 4:30 p.m., which you can watch live by clicking the NASA TV image above.
Current forecasts show potential for thunderstorms and strong crosswinds at Kennedy Space Center during two landing opportunities at 1:19 p.m. and 2:54 p.m.
If a landing at KSC is not possible, NASA could choose to land Endeavour at the Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
Cain said a landing there would not set back time lines for the nine remaining scheduled shuttle flights, nor would it limit teams' abilities to provide medical treatment or handle science payloads returning to Earth.
He said one site was as good as the other as long as the landing was safe.
Officials reported that debris seen floating from Endeavour's payload bay earlier today was likely a small temperature pressure label that was of no concern for landing.
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