The success of the mission will lead to the renewal of shuttle flights to continue the construction of the space station, which were stopped after the Columbia disaster
Six of the seven astronauts who arrived at the International Space Station aboard Discovery are preparing to take off tomorrow towards Earth. The German astronaut Thomas Reiter will join the crew of the International Space Station and will stay there for about six months.
On Thursday, the astronauts had one day of rest, before yesterday (Friday) they began operations to end the operation and towards the expected disconnection today (Saturday) from the International Space Station in preparation for returning to Earth on Monday.
Discovery astronauts Stephanie Wilson and Lisa Novak used the station's robotic arm to return the Leonardo logistics component to the shuttle's cargo deck.
Leonardo contained over 3 tons of equipment and supplies when brought to the station. It will be returned to Earth with about 2 tons of experimental results and unnecessary items from the space station.
Later Friday, Wilson, Novak and shuttle commander Steve Lindsey used the robotic arm and its extension to examine the panels along the shuttle's wings to make sure they were free of damage that could be caused by a micrometeoroid impact. The right wing and nose of the shuttle will undergo this test after detaching from the space station. Discovery is scheduled to leave the space station on Saturday, 13:08 Israel time and then begin the two-day journey home.
The success of the current mission is expected to lead to the renewal of regular missions to the International Space Station, which were stopped following the Columbia disaster in 2003. By the time construction is completed in 2010, 16 more missions are expected to depart. The next team will take off on the "Atlantis" shuttle as early as August 28. Six astronauts will deliver metal rods and solar systems that will be used in further construction.
In September, a Russian Soyuz spacecraft will take off with two astronauts, who will stay for six months in the International Space Station. Along with them, a Japanese space tourist will also arrive for a period of 10 days, who will stay in space for ten days in exchange for 20 million dollars.
Drafting and editing: H. J. Glykasm, translations and technical writing
