Endeavour already waiting in the wings while Atlantis lands

0 Comments | USA TODAY, February, 2008 | by Traci Watson

Space shuttle Atlantis landed Wednesday, while another shuttle is already sitting on the launch pad awaiting its turn as NASA moves quickly to achieve its ambitious goal of six flights this year -- a rate not reached since 2001.

Atlantis glided to a touchdown at 9:07 a.m. ET, ending a 13-day mission and clearing the way for the Navy to fire a missile Wednesday at a malfunctioning satellite. The military and NASA wanted the shuttle safely on Earth to ensure it wouldn't have to dodge debris from a hit on the 5,000-pound satellite.

Atlantis' homecoming clears the way for NASA to send shuttle Endeavour into space March 11, three weeks from now.

"It feels good to be having missions back-to-back," launch director Michael Leinbach said Wednesday after...