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| Discovery begins return to Earth | Discovery begins return to Earth |
| (9 minutes later) | |
| Space shuttle Discovery is returning to Earth after an eventful 15-day mission to the International Space Station. | Space shuttle Discovery is returning to Earth after an eventful 15-day mission to the International Space Station. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Discovery pushed away from the space station (ISS), some 350km (220 miles) above the Pacific Ocean, on Monday. | Discovery pushed away from the space station (ISS), some 350km (220 miles) above the Pacific Ocean, on Monday. |
| The shuttle is scheduled to land at 1301 local time (1801 GMT) at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida. | |
| 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. | 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. |
| This manoeuvre signalled the start of a 60-minute descent back to Earth. | This manoeuvre signalled the start of a 60-minute descent back to Earth. |
| Earlier, Nasa officials reported no damage to the shuttle's insulation tiles, which protect the orbiter from temperatures of up to 1,649C (3,000F) as it re-enters the atmosphere. | |
| All change | All change |
| 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. | 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 | 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. | 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. 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 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. | 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. |