Nasa switches shuttle landing to California

Nasa cancelled plans to land space shuttle Discovery in Florida today because of stormy weather and changed the landing site to California.

Unstable weather at Cape Canaveral prompted Mission Control’s decision to send Discovery to the back-up touchdown site at Edwards Air Force Base in the Mojave Desert, especially after small pockets of thunderstorms popped up close to the landing strip.

“How do you feel about a beautiful clear night with a breeze down the runway in the high desert of California?” Mission Control radioed.

“We are ready for whatever we need to do,” replied commandr Eileen Collins.

The next landing opportunity at Edwards Air Force Base will be at 13.12 Irish time.