The crew of the Atlantis space shuttle will have to wait until tomorrow to bring their 13-day mission to the International Space Station (ISS) to an end after "unfavourable weather" delayed their scheduled landing.

Nasa opted to miss two landing windows at Florida's Kennedy Space Centre today due to local thunderstorms.

But mission control is hopeful that two touchdown opportunities tomorrow at 14:15 local time (19:15 BST) and 15:15 local time (20:15 BST) can be taken.

If the weather persists in not permitting the seven-strong STS-117 crew to land then two further landing times are open later in the evening at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

"Thunderstorms in the vicinity of Kennedy forced flight controllers to waive off both opportunities today," a Nasa statement said.

"Controllers and the spaceflight meteorology group will closely monitor forecasts for Friday's opportunities in Florida and at Edwards."

The space shuttle, which has enough supplies and fuel to not land until Sunday, is returning to Earth after the successful completion of its construction mission on the ISS.

Starboard 3 and 4 truss segments were installed during the course of four spacewalks, the third of which included the repair of a displaced thermal blanket and left orbital manoeuvring system pod.

The mission also saw flight engineer Clayton Anderson delivered to the space station, with Sunita Williams returning to Earth in his place.

Earlier this week the pilot became the new record-holder for the longest duration a female astronaut has spent in space, with her new record currently standing at 194 days.

The next scheduled Nasa Atlantis mission will launch in August.

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