In this undated composite image released by NASA, Death Valley, Calif. , is shown in an image made by combining images from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) simulated natural color image and the digital topography from the ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) data set. It is the driest and hottest location in North America. The region is characterized by deep valleys and high mountain ranges, located in the large Basin and Range province of the western United States. Furnace Creek ranch in the right foreground is the only place on the valley floor where vegetation grows year-round. AP Photo logo AP Photo 5 months ago

In this undated composite image released by NASA, Death Valley, Calif. , is shown in an image made by combining images from the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) simulated natural color image and the digital topography from the ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) data set. It is the driest and hottest location in North America. The region is characterized by deep valleys and high mountain ranges, located in the large Basin and Range province of the western United States. Furnace Creek ranch in the right foreground is the only place on the valley floor where vegetation grows year-round.

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  1. In this photo released by NASA, Expedition 20 and 21 flight engineer, Nicole Stott, speaks during an interview late Friday, Nov. 27, 2009 at the Operations and Checkout Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Stott returned to earth on the space shuttle Atlantis earlier in the day following 87 days as a crew member on the international space station.
  2. In this photo released by NASA, Expedition 20 and 21 flight engineer speaks during an interview late Friday, Nov. 27, 2009 at the Operations and Checkout Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Stott returned to earth on the space shuttle Atlantis earlier in the day following 87 days as a crew member on the international space station.
  3. In this photo released by NASA, Expedition 20 and 21 flight engineer, Nicole Stott, smiles during an interview late Friday, Nov. 27, 2009 at the Operations and Checkout Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Stott returned to earth on the space shuttle Atlantis earlier in the day following 87 days as a crew member on the international space station.
  4. In this photo released by NASA, Expedition 20 and 21 flight engineer smiles during an interview late Friday, Nov. 27, 2009 at the Operations and Checkout Building at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Stott returned to earth on the space shuttle Atlantis earlier in the day following 87 days as a crew member on the international space station.
  5. CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - NOVEMBER 27: Mike Leinbach, NASA shuttle launch director, addresses the media during the Space Shuttle Atlantis post-landing press conference at Kennedy Space Center November 27, 2009 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The astronauts completed an eleven day mission to the International Space Station.
  6. CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - NOVEMBER 27: Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for Space Operations, addresses the media during the Space Shuttle Atlantis post-landing press conference at Kennedy Space Center November 27, 2009 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The astronauts completed an eleven day mission to the International Space Station.
  7. CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - NOVEMBER 27: (L-R) Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA associate administrator for Space Operations, Mike Moses, space shuttle launch integration manager, and Mike Leinbach, NASA shuttle launch director address the media during the Space Shuttle Atlantis post-landing press conference at Kennedy Space Center November 27, 2009 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The astronauts completed an eleven day mission to the International Space Station.
  8. A NASA technician heads up a walkway to work on the space shuttle Atlantis after landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida November 27, 2009.
  9. Space shuttle Atlantis commander Charles Hobaugh (R) hugs NASA administrator Charles Hobaugh after landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida November 27, 2009.
  10. NASA administrator Charles Bolden (C) talks with NASA contractors on the runway following the landing of space shuttle Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida November 27, 2009.
  11. NASA administrator Charles Bolden looks over the space shuttle Atlantis on the runway following landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida November 27, 2009.
  12. NASA administrator Charles Bolden (R) talks with space shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach following the landing of space shuttle Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida November 27, 2009.
  13. NASA's associate administrator for space operations William Gerstenmaier (L) laughes with space shuttle Atlantis commander Charles Hobaugh (C) and mission specialist Robert Satcher after landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida November 27, 2009.
  14. NASA administrator Charles Bolden (L) talks with space shuttle Atlantis astronaut Randy Bresnik following the shuttle's landing at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida November 27, 2009.
  15. CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - NOVEMBER 27: NASA workers prepare Space Shuttle Atlantis after it touched down on the shuttle landing facility at Kennedy Space Center November 27, 2009 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The astronauts completed an eleven day mission to the International Space Station.
  16. CAPE CANAVERAL, FL - NOVEMBER 27: NASA workers prepare Space Shuttle Atlantis after it touched down on the shuttle landing facility at Kennedy Space Center November 27, 2009 in Cape Canaveral, Florida. The astronauts completed an eleven day mission to the International Space Station.

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