248 Orbits Later, Safe at Home!

It's got to be one heck of a rush to bring a spaceship through Earth's atmosphere and land it safely on a runway. NASA reported that the Endeavour kicks "up dust as it touches down on Runway 15 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida to complete the 16-day, 6.5-million mile journey."

In typical gear-head fashion, NASA's press release noted that the shuttle "landed on orbit 248. Main gear touchdown was at 10:48:08 a.m. EDT. Nose gear touchdown was at 10:48:21 a.m. and wheels stop was at 10:49:13 a.m."

Sort of gives new meaning to the phrase "obsessive-compulsive," doesn't it?

Photo courtesy of NASA/Kim Shiflett.