Scrimping Pays Off
By scrimping on fuel, space shuttle Endeavour’s astronauts have saved enough to complete their mapping of Earth’s peaks and valleys, NASA said Thursday. “We have basically nickeled and dimed our way up to full payment, and this has not been easy,” said NASA official Milt Heflin. Working round the clock, flight controllers came up with innovative ways to conserve fuel, including changes in steering the shuttle and flushing away urine. Above is an image taken from the shuttle of Paranagua, Brazil, southeast of Sao Paulo, and the estuary on which it is located.