MISSION CONTROL CENTER STS-67 Status Report # 29 Thursday, March 16, 5:00 PM CST Endeavour's astronauts wrapped up final astronomical observations today, setting their sights on home as their record-setting research mission nears its conclusion. With the trio of ASTRO-2 telescopes in their ship's cargo bay having obtained a wealth of ultraviolet celestial data, Endeavour's astronauts prepared to deactivate the stargazing instruments. Commander Steve Oswald spoke with U.S. Astronaut Norm Thagard aboard the Mir Space Station in a radio hookup between the two spacecraft. Former shuttle crewmates, Oswald and Thagard exchanged congratulations on their respective flights and discussed the symbolic importance of Thagard's venture as the first American to visit the Russian space outpost. Thagard and his Russian crewmates arrived at Mir early this morning to begin three months of scientific and medical research. The Red team astronauts -- Oswald, Pilot Bill Gregory, Mission Specialist John Grunsfeld and Payload Specialist Ron Parise -- conducted final data takes with the ASTRO telescopes and reviewed entry messages prepared by the flight controllers who will guide Endeavour to its scheduled landing tomorrow afternoon at the Kennedy Space Center. Three landing opportunities to Kennedy Space Center are available on Friday. The first landing opportunity would bring Endeavour home at 1:53 PM CST, followed by backup opportunities at 3:30 PM and 5:07 PM. The current weather forecast for KSC calls for broken and scattered clouds and a chance for rain and thundershowers within 30 miles of the landing site. NASA managers have elected not to call up landing support at the backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California for Friday and would keep the astronauts aloft for an extra day in the event weather prevents a landing in Florida. Before beginning their deorbit preparations tomorrow, the astronauts will test-fire Endeavour's reaction control system jets to ensure that the Shuttle is in good shape for its return to Earth. Tonight, at 6:33 PM CST, Endeavour will eclipse the existing endurance record for a Shuttle, breaking the mark of 14 days, 17 hours and 55 minutes in orbit. That record was set by Columbia last year, on the STS-65 mission. Endeavour continues to perform flawlessly, orbiting the Earth every 91 minutes at an altitude of 185 nautical miles. The JSC Newsroom is open from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. weekdays, and from 9 a.m. - 1 p.m. weekends, throughout the mission. NASA's MSFC Newsroom is open from 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. weekdays, and from 6 a.m. - 2 p.m. weekends. MSFC's code-a-phone is updated twice daily and can be reached by calling 205-544-6397.