Space shuttle Discovery visits Altus Air Force Base in southeast Oklahoma

Friday, August 19th 2005, 6:12 am

By: News On 6

ALTUS AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. (AP) -- A jumbo jet carrying space shuttle Discovery gently touched down in Oklahoma Friday afternoon under clear, sunny skies and was airborne a few hours later as it continued its trip back home to Florida.

The modified Boeing 747 carrying the shuttle lifted off Friday morning from Edwards Air Force Base in California, more than a week after it landed in the Mojave Desert to become the first space shuttle to return to Earth since the Columbia tragedy.

It arrived at Altus Air Force Base in southwestern Oklahoma three hours later, the first leg of its 2,232-mile trip. It refueled and departed for Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana late Friday afternoon.

It was to leave from there for Florida on Saturday, weather permitting.