Thanksgiving should be last full day in space for shuttle, no turkey, just brisket and fajitas

Thanksgiving last full day in space for shuttle

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space shuttle Atlantis’ astronauts will spend Thanksgiving checking their ship for the ride home.

The shuttle and its crew of seven are aiming for a Friday morning landing at NASA’s Florida spaceport. Good weather is forecast.

The astronauts will test Atlantis’ flight systems Thursday morning, take questions from TV reporters and then settle down to a holiday meal.

Commander Charles Hobaugh didn’t want anything special, so the crew is making do with what’s left in the pantry. Thursday’s menu includes barbecue beef brisket for some, chicken fajitas for others, and even sweet and sour pork.

Atlantis left the International Space Station on Wednesday. The shuttle dropped off tons of big spare parts.