Payette Returns from Space

Astronaut Julie Payette insists Canada's role in the latest shuttle mission is hard to ignore.

Payette and the crew of Endeavour returned to Earth Friday morning after a 16-day mission to the International Space Station.

Payette calls the mission extraordinary, adding Canada figured significantly on the mission.

She noted two Canadian astronauts were involved in the mission and crucial Canadian robotics were part of the work.

Payette operated all three robotic arms during the mission: The station's Canadarm2, the Shuttle's Canadarm and the Japanese arm.

It was Payette's second mission to the International Space Station.

She says it has changed immensely since 1999, adding "my first mission 10 years ago was to a very small space station that only had two modules, nobody on board and yet a lot of work to be done on it."

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