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Space Shuttle Returns to Earth Voice of America, March 21, 2001 The U.S. Space Shuttle Discovery has returned to earth following nearly a two week mission to deliver a new crew to the International Space Station. The shuttle landed early Wednesday at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida. Bad weather delayed the landing by about an hour and a half. Thick clouds, heavy winds, and the threat of rain almost forced NASA to land the shuttle at an alternate site in California. Discovery took two U.S. astronauts and a Russian cosmonaut to replace the original three-man space station crew that spent a total of four and a half months in space. Astronaut William Shepherd, who commanded the first resident space station crew, said it was the high point of his mission when he turned over control of the space station to its new commander, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Usachev. Astronaut Shepherd called it a historic day in space and said he had mixed feelings about returning to earth. The returning space station crew will undergo a variety of medical tests and procedures to help their bodies readjust to gravity. Discovery also carried the first space station module designed to return to Earth. The Italian-built Leonardo module was used to carry scientific experiments, computers and supplies for the new space station crew. After being docked to the orbiter for five days, it was packed with garbage and used equipment and loaded back aboard the shuttle for the return journey to Earth.
And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
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