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WHY DOES THE SPACE SHUTTLE TAKES SO MUCH TIME TO RETURN BACK TO EARTH AFTER LEAVING THE INTRERNATIONAL SPACE STATION?
After the Shuttle leaves the ISS, there is still a lot of work to do. Some of it is general scientific stuff, some of it is "housekeeping", and some of it is landing preparation.
Then of course, if the weather is bad at the landing site, that could delay the landing by several orbits or even days.
Steve
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Answers by Expert:
Steven LJ Russo
Expertise
As a space science educator in a planetarium, my work centers around teaching people about the night sky and the solar system. I have a strong background in those areas, plus the history of NASA and spaceflight, and meteorology.
Experience
Experience in the area. I have been an amateur astronomer for 47 years, and have been teachng space science in planetariums for 34 years. For 15 years I was a radio and television meteorologist, and for the past 20 years I have been a space science writer for two newspapers in New York State. I am a member of the Middle Atlantic Planetarium Society and the International Planetarium Society. I have had a number of articles published in several astronomy journals, including "The Constellation" and the "Planetarian". Education/Credentials. I hold a B. S. from Wagner College and an M. S. from State University of New York at Oswego. Awards and Honors. I have been awarded the "Fellows" award from the International Planetarium Society for more than 20 years of continuous service in the planetarium field.
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