Shuttle aims for Friday morning landing in Florida

[July 31, 2009]  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- Space shuttle Endeavour and its seven astronauts are aiming for a landing back in Florida.

Endeavour is scheduled to touch down late Friday morning at Kennedy Space Center, winding up a successful 16-day flight to the international space station. NASA says the weather should cooperate.

While visiting the space station, the astronauts put on a new addition to Japan's one-billion-dollar lab, installed fresh batteries, and stockpiled some big spare parts. They were part of the biggest gathering ever in space. Counting the six station residents, the crowd totaled 13.

Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata is returning home following a four-and-a-half-month space station stay. He says he can't wait to taste some sushi.

[Associated Press; By MARCIA DUNN]

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