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After Detour, Shuttle Lands in California
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., June 19 — Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Endeavour took a cross-country detour today to California, taxiing two Americans back to Earth after the longest space mission in United States history.
Thunderstorms forced the National Aeronautics and Space Administration to forgo landing here at the Kennedy Space Center for the third consecutive day.
With the shuttle running low on electrical power, Endeavour and its crew of seven astronauts touched down about 2 p.m. Eastern time at Edwards Air Force Base, north of Los Angeles.
The landing ended a 196-day mission for Capt. Daniel W. Bursch of the Navy and Col. Carl E. Walz of the Air Force, who blasted off for the International Space Station on Dec. 5 with Col. Yuri I. Onufrienko of the Russian Air Force.
Captain Bursch and Colonel Walz now hold the American record for space endurance, eclipsing the 188-day mark that Dr. Shannon W. Lucid, a civilian NASA astronaut, set during a 1996 mission to Russia's former space station Mir.
"It's great to be back to planet Earth," Captain Bursch said.
The American record-holders and their Russian colleague now face an extensive physical rehabilitation program.
Long stays in weightlessness weaken the human body. A loss of bone mass is typical. Muscles atrophy from lack of use. The inner ear system is adversely affected. Blood and body fluids, which pool in the head in space, are pulled down toward the lower torso in normal gravity.
Consequently, the simple act of standing or walking is difficult for returning astronauts. Nausea is common.
"They're going to be feeling sick for a little while, and they're going to be feeling a little wobbly as they walk around," said Dr. Terrance A. Taddeo, a NASA flight surgeon.
The rehab program will initially involve stretching and massage. Swimming, walking, jogging and exercise will follow. The astronauts should be able to return to normal duty in 45 days.
Endeavour lifted off on June 5, ferrying a new resident crew to the international station. Its astronauts also mounted a mobile work platform for the station's robotic arm and replaced a faulty joint on the cranelike device.
Columbia is to blast off on July 19 on NASA's next space shuttle mission. Col. Ilan Ramon of the Israeli Air Force is to become the first Israeli to fly in space on that 16-day science flight.
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