Thunderstorms delay shuttle's homecoming

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., June 17 (UPI) -- NASA delayed shuttle Endeavour's homecoming on Monday for at least a day due to thunderstorms and cloudy skies at the spaceship's Florida home port.

"We gave it a good college try today, but those thunderstorms are starting to encroach," astronaut William Oefelein radioed to the Endeavour crew from Mission Control Center in Houston, as he passed along marching orders for commander Ken Cockrell to keep the shuttle in orbit.

"Tell everybody waiting on the ground we're sorry," replied Cockrell, "and we'll try to see them tomorrow."

Florida's dismal weather forecasts, however, continue through Tuesday, raising the possibility that the shuttle will have to be diverted to its backup landing site in California. In addition to adding about $1 million in transportation and support services costs, a California touchdown likely would delay Endeavour's next mission, slated for October -- a situation NASA would like to avoid, if possible, so station assembly and crew rotation missions can remain on track.

The first landing opportunity at the Kennedy Space Center would come at 11:56 a.m. EST. A second and final landing opportunity in Florida on Tuesday would be at 1:32 p.m. Forecasters are predicting rain and clouds throughout the afternoon.

California touchdown times on Tuesday are at 3:02 and 4:38 p.m. EDT, although the weather forecast is not favorable for a west coast landing either, with high winds the primary concern.

The shuttle has enough fuel and supplies to safely remain in orbit until Thursday, said NASA Flight Director John Shannon.

Though astronauts typically relish an extra day or two in orbit, three men aboard Endeavour are particularly anxious to get home. Cosmonaut Yuri Onufrienko and astronauts Carl Walz and Dan Bursch have been in space for 194 days -- a new U.S. endurance record -- and are patiently awaiting a reunion with their families.

"We have more film to shoot so you know, we'll just keep shooting film up here," Walz remarked on Sunday when asked about the prospect of a delay. "Of course, we're hoping to be able to get back home (on Monday), but if we have to wait a day, we'll wait a day."

Endeavour's launch nine days ago likewise was delayed several days due to weather concerns at the Kennedy Space Center.