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| Image above: The STS-122 and Expedition 16 crews bid one another farewell Sunday. Photo credit: NASA TV |
Space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to undock from the International Space Station at 4:27 a.m. EST today, ending its 10-day stay at the orbital outpost.
After the STS-122 and Expedition 16 crews bid one another farewell, the hatches between the two spacecraft closed at 1:03 p.m. Sunday.
The crew will perform a final inspection of the orbiter’s heat shield today in preparation for its return home.
STS-122 arrived at the station Feb. 9, delivering the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Columbus laboratory to the station. The crews installed Columbus Feb. 11 and conducted three spacewalks to prepare Columbus for its scientific work. They also replaced an expended nitrogen tank on the station’s P1 truss.
In addition, Atlantis delivered a new station crew member, Flight Engineer Leopold Eyharts, KE5FNO, an ESA astronaut. He replaced astronaut Daniel Tani, KD5DXE, who is returning to Earth aboard Atlantis.
The orbiter is scheduled to land at Kennedy Space Center, Florida on Wednesday.
In preparation for STS-123, space shuttle Endeavour is slated to begin rolling out to the launch pad at 6:30 a.m.
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