It is good to see Discovery has returned safely – not because they were in any danger or risk. But to give some confidence back to a media too focused on some minor challenges with some elements of the system, and not respectful enough of the engineering that goes into space flight. For those who want a blow-by-blow of the descent and landing here is a ‘live blog’ of events as they transpired:

8:12 a.m. – Touchdown! Discovery is rolling out on runway 22 at Edwards Air Force Base!

8:07 a.m. – Discovery’s wings leveling as it approaches the landing site. Now that the orbiter has gone subsonic, Commander Eileen Collins has assumed control. She’ll fly Discovery on a 194-degree right overhead turn to align with runway 22.

8:04 a.m. – This will be the 50th landing of a Space Shuttle at Edwards Air Force Base. Eight minutes, 135 miles to touchdown.

8:02 a.m. – 10 minutes until touchdown. Discovery is in range of ground tracking and using Tactical Air Navigation (TACAN) data. There is one bank remaining in the series of four.

7:59 a.m. – 470 miles to touchdown, speed 7,400 miles per hour. Discovery is banking back to the left, the third in a series of four steep rolls to help dissipate speed as it heads for touchdown.

7:56 a.m. – Traveling 17 times the speed of sound, Discovery is within 1,000 miles of the runway at Edwards Air Force Base.
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