Veteran astronauts Dominic Gorie and John "Danny" Olivas are leaving NASA.

For what may be the first time since the inception of the American space program, the Navy is restricting nominations to the astronaut corps. The move comes nearly 50 years after Alan Shepard, a naval aviator, became the first American in space.

By Marcia Dunn CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The space shuttle Endeavour and its crew of seven returned to Earth on Wednesday, making a rare nighttime touchdown to wrap up "a two-week adventure" at the international space station.

This story was updated at 12:28 a.m. March 27 EDT. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA's shuttle Endeavour and its seven-astronaut crew returned to Earth safely late Wednesday, hitting the finish line of a construction marathon at the International Space Station (ISS).

Seven astronauts aboard the space shuttle Endeavour made a safe, though late, return to the Kennedy Space Center Wednesday.