1.   The computer runs a backup software program for launching and landing the shuttle.

2.   Here, parents and their kids patiently waited for a turn to land the shuttle or dock with a space station via video simulators.

3.   In recent years, however, the space agency has opted to land its shuttles near its launch site at Cape Canaveral, Fla.

4.   NASA prefers to land its shuttles at the place where they are launched, Cape Canaveral, Fla., but bad weather there forced Atlantis to go to California.

5.   NASA prefers to land its shuttles in Florida to save time and money.

6.   NASA finally decided to land the shuttle in California, though Endeavour had enough fuel and supplies to stay in orbit until Thursday.

7.   Stiff wind forced flight controllers to cancel the first of two opportunities to land the shuttle at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday.