STS-
n.
Liftoff of the Space Shuttle Endeavour, returning to the International Space Station . . . and the Shuttle has cleared the tower!
(Insert scads of people cheering here.)
Uh oh. A major systems failure seconds prior to booster separation has forced a RTLS abort.
Here Endeavour is 'hanging ten' . . . performing a hand-stand in the thermosphere whilst bleeding off her original velocity vector.
...and it worked! An OMS assist helps translate forward momentum back into the 'hand-stand' to get Endeavour back home.
Medium-range cameras atop the Vehicle Assembly Building capture Endeavour on her way down . . .
. . . to a . . .
. . . slightly long touchdown point right at the Shuttle Landing Facility.
Ta-da! :tiphat: