Space shuttle Discovery set to return to Earth for final time
March 8th, 2011 - 1:13 pm ICT by BNO NewsCAPE CANAVERAL, FLORIDA (BNO NEWS) — NASA on Monday announced that Space shuttle Discovery is scheduled to return to Earth for the final time on Wednesday, completing a 13-day mission to outfit the International Space Station.
If Discovery lands Wednesday, it will have spent a total of 365 days in space and traveled more than 148 million miles (238 million kilometers) during 39 flights. It launched on its first mission on August 30, 1984. On Monday, Discovery undocked from the International Space Station for the last time.
The shuttle’s six member crew delivered cargo, a new pressurized storage module, an outside storage platform, a robot-astronaut prototype, and tons of cargo. Spacewalks and indoor tasks were also performed.
Wednesday landing opportunities at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida are at 11:57 a.m. and 1:34 p.m. EST. NASA managers will evaluate weather conditions at Kennedy before permitting Discovery to land.
If Discovery is unable to land Wednesday, additional opportunities are available on Thursday at Kennedy and at backup landing site Edwards Air Force Base in California.
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- Discovery scheduled to return to Earth for the final time on Wednesday - Mar 08, 2011
- NASA sets launch date for space shuttle Discovery mission - Feb 24 - Feb 19, 2011
- Discovery space shuttle set to return to Earth on Monday - Apr 18, 2010
- Shuttle Atlantis returns safely to end its last mission - May 26, 2010
- Space shuttle Atlantis makes final landing - Jul 21, 2011
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- North Carolina astronaut to board NASA's next space shuttle flight - Apr 28, 2010
- NASA space shuttle Discovery returns safely - Apr 20, 2010
- NASA extends Discovery mission - Apr 11, 2010
- Discovery undocks from ISS, heads for home - Apr 17, 2010
- NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis lifts off on final voyage - May 15, 2010
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