I watched the coverage of the landing of STS-118 on NASA TV today. I was very impressed with the coverage provided. There was real-time footage from the cockpit of the heads up display showing the information the pilots use as seen through the Shuttle windshield. It was a little disconcerting when the sonic booms were heard and nobody said what it was. After the Shuttle had landed and come to a stop you could hear valve releasing gases near the tail. Nobody said what that was either. Later they showed an alternative spectrum view, probably B&W IR, and you could see the gas blowing off every time you heard the sound.
I didn't hear what was happening that they finally decided to bring the Shuttle back today. The last time I heard there seemed to be some consternation about when to land even though they had left the ISS. If they had already left the ISS I don't understand what advantage there was to possibly spending another day on orbit if they could land immediately. It seems like once you have cut the cord you come home as quickly as possible unless there is something that needs to be done on orbit.
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