(The video link is broken and we apologize for that. It will be repaired as soon as possible.)
Flames from the tail are normal. The APU which powers the hydraulics vents excess energy after landing. The hydraulics system is what helps the crew to land since they have no engine thrusters at that point. The flames are only visible during night landings. For more information on the APU, click through to NASA
NASA – Shuttle Launch Integration Manager Mike Moses said that space shuttle Endeavour’s landing capped off a flawless mission. “The crew did an outstanding job,” Moses said, referring to the complex task of installing Tranquility and its seven-windowed cupola to the International Space Station. “The landing today went as smooth as you can hope for — by the numbers.”
Moses wrapped up his remarks about the STS-130 mission by saying, “It was an outstanding mission — I can’t be happier with the success we had and look forward to repeating that on our next mission.”
Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach was extremely pleased with Endeavour’s condition.”One of the most magical things we get to do here at Kennedy Space Center is walk around the orbiter after a mission from space. She looks really, really good,” Leinbach said.
Leinbach also congratulated Norm Knight and his team in the Mission Control Center at NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston for a job well done.
Text and video are from NASA and public domain.
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