Discovery scheduled to return to Earth for the final time on Wednesday
March 8th, 2011 - 11:48 am ICT by ANIWashington, Mar 8 (ANI): Space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to return to Earth for the final time on Wednesday, March 9.
If it lands on Wednesday, it will have spent a total of 365 days in space and travelled more than 148 million miles during 39 flights. It launched on its first mission on Aug. 30, 1984.
NASA managers will evaluate weather conditions at Kennedy before permitting Discovery to land and if conditions are unfavourable, additional opportunities are available on Thursday at Kennedy and at backup landing site Edwards Air Force Base in California.
Approximately two hours after Discovery lands, NASA officials will hold a briefing to discuss the mission.
Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations, Mike Moses, space shuttle launch integration manager and Mike Leinbach, space shuttle launch director will attend the discussion.
Post landing, the astronauts will undergo routine physical examinations and meet with their families.
The news events will be broadcast live on NASA Television and the agency’s website.
The STS-133 media badges are in effect through landing. The media accreditation building on State Road 3 will be open from 7 to 10 a.m.Wednesday. The last bus will depart from the news center for the Shuttle Landing Facility one hour before landing. (ANI)
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