Endeavour and six astronauts brushed aside thin clouds late Sunday to land safely at Kennedy Space Center, ending a two-week mission that added a last U.S. room to the International Space Station and opened new windows on the universe."Houston, Endeavour, wheels stop,” Endeavour commander George Zamka radioed shortly after the 10:20 p.m. touchdown.
"Welcome home," said Rick Sturckow, an astronaut communicating with the crew from Houston. "Congratulations to you and the crew on an outstanding mission, installing the Tranquility node and opening up the Cupola's windows to the world."
"It's great to be home," replied Zamka. "It was a great adventure."
Poor weather forecasts threatened to keep the crew in orbit an extra day.
But skies remained clear enough for Zamka and pilot Terry Virts to guide Endeavour through a dive to KSC's runway seven times steeper and 20 times faster than a commercial airliner.
Also on board Endeavour were mission specialists Bob Behnken, Kay Hire, Nick Patrick and Steve Robinson.
At the station, the crew installed the Tranquility module and a dome-shaped observation deck, called the cupola, that offered stunning new views of Earth and space through seven windows.
Endeavour made the 17th night landing at KSC. The mission's night launch Feb. 8 was the 34th by a shuttle.
The next mission is targeted for launch April 5. Discovery's flight is one of four remaining before NASA plans to end the shuttle program.
After a delay because of extended cold weather in Florida, Discovery is scheduled to roll from its hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Tuesday, and to the launch pad March 2.
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