Space Shuttle Discovery Returns to Earth

Discovery swooped through the darkness of the Mojave Desert and landed on the Edwards runway at 5:11 a.m. PDT, well before sunrise. It marked the conclusion of the first shuttle re-entry since Columbia's tragic return. The detour to California came after thunderstorms in Cape Canaveral, Fla., prevented the shuttle from returning to its home base.

Discovery and its crew of seven glided safely back to Earth today, ending a riveting, at times agonizing, 14-day test of space shuttle safety that was shadowed by the ghosts of Columbia.

Source: Wired News