Rainy Weather Stalls Endeavour Departure

Rainy weather in the southwest United States prompted NASA to delay for at least a day the first leg of shuttle Endeavour's cross-country trip back to Kennedy Space Center.

The earliest the orbiter and its 747 carrier aircraft might arrive back at the shuttle's homeport is late morning Wednesday, but that remains an iffy proposition.

"They want to wait another day and see what cards we're dealt," KSC spokesman George Diller said.

Endeavour and its carrier aircraft had been scheduled to take off from Edwards Air Force Base just after sunrise Monday.

NASA flight rules prohibit flying the 747 and an orbiter through rain because the shuttle's fragile thermal tiles could be damaged. The 747-shuttle combination cannot fly in clouds either because Visual Flight Rules are in effect at all times.

Diller said a light rain was falling most of the day at Edwards. A cold front also is developing over the Pacific Ocean and could bring bad weather into the area later in the week.

NASA managers will meet with meteorologists early Monday to determine whether the 747 and Endeavour might be able to take off Tuesday.

Technicians finished mounting a tailcone around the orbiter's three main engines early Sunday. The tailcone reduces aerodynamic drag on the 747 and the orbiter during their low-altitude flight across the country.

The orbiter is scheduled to be raised in a steel gantry later today so the 747 can be moved under the vehicle. The orbiter then will be bolted to the top of the modified 747 for the trip back to KSC.

The exact route the 747 and the orbiter will take across the country is being held confidential -- a post-911 security precaution. An initial destination will be made public after the 747-shuttle combination take off from Edwards.

Endeavour and seven astronauts landed at Edwards Nov. 30 after a mission to outfit the International Space Station for crews of six. Stiff crosswinds and approaching thunderstorms at KSC prompted NASA to forego two landing opportunities at the shuttle's homeport. It was the 52nd shuttle landing at Edwards out of 124 missions to date.

ABOUT THE IMAGES: Click to enlarge the NASA images of Endaevour being readied for a cross-country trip back to Kennedy Space Center. Both were take before an aerodynamic tailcone was placed around the aft end of the orbiter early today. Photo credit: NASA/Tony Landis.