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Space shuttle Endeavour to land today

The crew of space shuttle Endeavour spent yesterday getting ready for their journey home and the end of the STS-123 mission. Among the preparations was a test of the thrusters that will be used to position the orbiter for re-entry and the control surfaces for its flight through the atmosphere.

Image above: The International Space Station is pictured from space shuttle Endeavour as the two spacecraft separate after undocking. Credit: NASA

The STS-123 astronauts have also set up the recumbent seat for Mission Specialist Léopold Eyharts, FX0STD, who joined the crew of Endeavour on the International Space Station. The recumbent seat is a special seat designed to reduce the stress of gravity on those who have spent long periods of time in the weightless environment of space.

STS-123 arrived at the station March 12, delivering the Japanese Logistics Module - Pressurized Section, the first pressurized component of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory, to the station. The crew of Endeavour also delivered the final element of the station’s Mobile Servicing System, the Canadian-built Dextre, also known as the Special Purpose Dextrous Manipulator.

Image above: The International Space Station is viewed from space shuttle Endeavour after undocking. The newly attached Japanese pressurized logistics module rests atop the Harmony Node. Credit: NASA TV

In addition the STS-123 astronauts delivered Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Garrett Reisman, KE5HAE, who replaced Eyharts, a European Space Agency astronaut, on the station.
The orbiter is scheduled to land at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, today.