An investigation into the fatal Virgin Galactic spaceship crash has found the function to help it descend was deployed early.

Nasa managers cleared Discovery to return home today, planning for a possible touchdown in New Mexico for only the second time in space shuttle history because of bad weather on both coasts.

DISCOVERY and its crew of seven glided safely back to Earth yesterday, ending a riveting, at times agonising, 14-day test of space shuttle safety that was shadowed by the ghosts of Columbia.

The space shuttle Discovery and its crew of seven have touched down safely at Edwards air base in California's Mojave Desert.