Nation in brief: Astronauts take break from tasks

Astronauts aboard the linked shuttle-station complex relaxed Sunday after an intense week and a half of work that included five spacewalks and the installation of a giant robot and a Japanese storage compartment.

Crew members transferred supplies and equipment between the station to the shuttle and completed other housekeeping tasks to get ready for Endeavour’s departure today. All 10 astronauts also planned to participate in a news conference Sunday.

Astronauts devoted most of the mission’s first three spacewalks to assembling the robot, named Dextre. The fourth spacewalk focused on testing a method for repairing damaged shuttle thermal tiles, while the fifth involved stowing an inspection boom on the station.

Dextre, a Canadian Space Agency contribution that cost more than $200 million, could eventually take over some of the chores currently handled by spacewalkers. Endeavour is scheduled to undock from the space station tonight and land back at Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday night. The shuttle’s thermal shield has been cleared for landing.

Chicago

Protesters interrupt Mass

Chicago police have arrested six people who disrupted an Easter Mass by squirting fake blood on themselves to protest the war in Iraq.

Police say the four men and two women stood in Holy Name Cathedral and yelled about their opposition to the war during Cardinal Francis George’s homily on Sunday.

Police say the demonstrators also squirted fake blood on parishioners as they were removed from the service by security guards and ushers.

George says everyone should work for peace, but not by interrupting the worship of God.

From wire reports