A short engine burn over the weekend started NASA's NEAR Shoemaker on a gradual journey toward its ideal scientific orbit around asteroid Eros. The spacecraft fired its breaking thrusters and moved down from the 62-mile orbit it occupied for the previous 11 days. GMT Atlantis launch scrubbed Gusty crosswinds at the emergency landing strip at Kennedy Space Center forced NASA officials today to call off the planned launch of space shuttle Atlantis. Follow the countdown in our Mission Status Center. Spaceflight Now .
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