Discovery starts journey home

Discovery is due to land around 9.15am EDT on Monday, with the deorbit burn (re-entry) set for around 8am EDT. Nasa said weather forecasters predict a chance of showers at the landing site at the Kennedy Space Center, but shouldn’t hinder the landing.

Discovery’s landing will mark the end of a successful mission for the STS-121 astronauts. They delivered supplies, equipment and a new Expedition 13 crew member to the International Space Station.

During three spacewalks, they performed maintenance on the station’s mobile transporter and tested orbiter heat shield techniques.

Related Links:
Discovery Launch Successful
Discovery’s a “Go” for Independence Day
Launch Scrubbed
Nasa Shuttle web-site
Nasa Landing Blog
Nasa Launch blog (Archive)