Rain Could Delay Shuttle’s Landing

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, Fla. — The space shuttle Endeavour’s astronauts squeezed in a few final experiments on their bonus day in space Saturday and began stowing equipment for the trip home, even though rain threatened to delay landing.

The laboratory research mission already has been extended from seven to eight days for scientific purposes.

NASA aimed for a touchdown here today despite the discouraging weather forecasts. Commander Robert (Hoot) Gibson will have two chances to land here: 4:19 a.m. PDT and an orbit at 5:53 a.m. PDT.

Flight directors said that if the weather is bad today, they would prefer to wait until Monday to bring Endeavour back rather than send the shuttle to the backup landing site at California’s Edwards Air Force Base.