Endeavour touches down in California

By Irene Klotz

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Endeavour wrapped up a 16-day mission to prepare the International Space Station for its first six-member crew with a flawless touchdown at NASA's backup landing site in California.

Double-sonic booms blasted through the Mojave Desert as Endeavour dipped below the speed of sound for the first time since its November 14 launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

NASA had hoped Endeavour would land there as well, but bad weather spurred flight controllers to divert the crew to the Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Commander Chris Ferguson steered the shuttle through in a series of sweeping curves to burn off speed before gently guiding the 100-ton ship onto a runway at 4:25 p.m. EST (2125 GMT) to complete NASA's fourth and final mission of the year.

"Welcome back. That was a great way to finish a fantastic flight," astronaut Alan Poindexter radioed to the crew from Mission Control in Houston.

Ferguson replied, "We're happy to be here in California."

The shuttle's California homecoming means it will be another day before returning space station flight engineer Greg Chamitoff is reunited with his wife and toddler twins, who were awaiting his arrival in Florida. Chamitoff, 46, had been in orbit for six months. He was replaced by rookie astronaut Sandra Magnus, who launched aboard Endeavour and who is to remain aboard the station with two other crew members until February.

NASA prefers to land in Florida to save about a week and almost $2 million to ferry the shuttle cross-country.  Continued...