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Shuttle ready for return to Earth Discovery begins return to Earth
(40 minutes later)
Astronauts on the shuttle Discovery have been given the all-clear to land at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. Space shuttle Discovery is returning to Earth after an eventful 15-day mission to the International Space Station.
They spent Tuesday testing flight control systems and packing away equipment after undocking from the International Space Station (ISS). During their time at the orbiting outpost, the shuttle's crew delivered a new unit, dropped off a fresh resident and completed a series of spacewalks.
The shuttle is scheduled to land at 1301 local time (1801 GMT) on Wednesday. Discovery pushed away from the space station (ISS), some 350km (220 miles) above the Pacific Ocean, on Monday.
The crew has delivered a new unit to the station, dropped off a new resident and undertaken a series of spacewalks. The shuttle is scheduled to land at 1302 local time (1802 GMT) at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
Discovery pushed away from the outpost, some 350km (220 miles) above the Pacific Ocean, on Monday. At 1259 local time (1659 GMT), shuttle commander Pam Melroy fired the craft's engines in a two-minute "deorbit burn" to slow its speed.
Discovery pictured moments after undocking from the space station "Discovery has physical separation," the shuttle's Commander Pam Melroy told Mission Control in Houston, Texas, as the orbiter moved back from the ISS. This manoeuvre signalled the start of a 60-minute descent back to Earth.
"Thank you guys for the module and all your help," responded Peggy Whitson, the platform's commander. Earlier, Nasa officials reported no damage to the shuttle's insulation tiles, which protects the orbiter from temperatures of up to 1,649C (3,000F) as it re-enters the atmosphere.
Melroy and Whitson are the first women to simultaneously manage two spacecraft in the 50-year history of spaceflight.
They have overseen an eventful 11 days of co-operation at the station.
All changeAll change
Discovery brought up the Harmony module from Earth. It is a passageway that will link present and future science laboratories on the orbiting outpost. The STS-120 mission brought up the Harmony module from Earth. It is a passageway that will link present and future science laboratories on the orbiting outpost.
Discovery pictured moments after undocking from the space station
Harmony was fitted to a temporary berth during one of the four spacewalks carried out during Discovery's stay. The module will be moved to its permanent position on the ISS structure next week.Harmony was fitted to a temporary berth during one of the four spacewalks carried out during Discovery's stay. The module will be moved to its permanent position on the ISS structure next week.
During the third spacewalk, the crews repositioned a huge girder and solar array tower, only to find a rip in one of the wings of the energy-collecting unit.During the third spacewalk, the crews repositioned a huge girder and solar array tower, only to find a rip in one of the wings of the energy-collecting unit.
With advice from ground engineers, the crews were able to work up a repair solution that involved dangling spacewalker Scott Parazynski out over the split panel to lash the damaged area together.With advice from ground engineers, the crews were able to work up a repair solution that involved dangling spacewalker Scott Parazynski out over the split panel to lash the damaged area together.
The repair meant the crews were able to fully deploy the solar array.The repair meant the crews were able to fully deploy the solar array.
The dramatic spacewalk has allowed the US space agency to press on with plans to launch its Atlantis orbiter in December. This is the high-profile mission that will bring Europe's major contribution to the ISS - its Columbus laboratory. The dramatic spacewalk has allowed the US space agency to press on with plans to launch its Atlantis orbiter in December.
This will be fitted to the Harmony node. This is the high-profile mission that will bring Europe's major contribution to the ISS - its Columbus laboratory. This will be fitted to the Harmony node.
Once undocked, Discovery flew around the station to film its new configuration.Once undocked, Discovery flew around the station to film its new configuration.
It will return to Earth with ISS resident Clayton Anderson, who has just finished a five-month tour on the platform. His place has been taken Daniel Tani, who came up with Discovery to start a two-month tour. It is returning to Earth with ISS resident Clayton Anderson, who has spent five months on the platform. His place has been taken Daniel Tani, who came up with Discovery to start a two-month tour.