Space shuttle Endeavour returns to Earth, making rare nighttime landing

Space shuttle Endeavour and its crew of seven returned to Earth, making a rare nighttime touchdown to wrap up "a two-week adventure" at the international space station. The shuttle swooped through the darkness and landed on NASA's illuminated runway at 8:39 p.m. Wednesday (0039 GMT Thursday), an hour after sunset. "Welcome home, Endeavour," Mission Control radioed. "Congrats to the entire crew." Replied Endeavour's commander, Dominic Gorie: "It was a super-rewarding mission, exciting from the start to the ending."