Megan's Blog

Touchdown

Credit: NASA

Discovery landed safely at Edwards AFB at 12:11:22 p.m. GMT, about half an hour after entry interface (first contact with the Earth's atmosphere), and an hour after the initial de-orbit burn. NASA TV followed the shuttle's approach using an infra red camera, we watched as the indistinct blob started to become shuttle-shaped and then turn in the final banking maneuvre before touchdown. Because the camera was infra red, you could see the temperature differences across the body of the craft, the leading edges of the wings showed up brighter than the body due to friction with the atmosphere.