CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Atlantis' astronauts spent Thanksgiving checking their ship for the ride home and expected to give thanks with pantry leftovers. Instead they were surprised by turkey dinners with candied yams, freeze-dried cornbread stuffing and green beans -- just add water.

NASA suspected the station's new skipper was responsible for the Thanksgiving feast.

The shuttle and its crew of seven are aiming for a Friday morning landing at NASA's Florida spaceport. Good weather is forecast.

The astronauts will test Atlantis' flight systems Thursday morning, take questions from TV reporters and then settle down to a holiday meal.

Commander Charles Hobaugh didn't want anything special, so the crew is making do with what's left in the pantry. Thursday's menu includes barbecue beef brisket for some, chicken fajitas for others, and even sweet and sour pork.

Atlantis left the International Space Station on Wednesday. The shuttle dropped off tons of big spare parts.