Discovery's empty cargo bay signifies the homestretch of a successful mission for the ship's six astronauts. Photo Credit/NASA
Great weather awaited Discovery’s astronauts on Tuesday as they prepared to end the storied spacecraft’s final mission with a nostalgic homecoming at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Touchdown was planned for Wednesday at 11:57 a.m., EST, with a backup landing opportunity at 1:34 p.m.
The return from Discovery’s twice extended, 13-day assembly and supply mission to the International Space Station will mark the end of her 39th and final trip to orbit. Discovery’s legacy includes the launching of the Hubble Space Telescope, the first orbital retrievals of malfunctioning satellites as well as 13 station assembly flights. Her passengers include U. S. Sen. John Glenn, the Mercury astronaut who became the first American to orbit the Earth in 1962. At 77 when he flew in 1998, Glenn became the oldest human to travel in space,
Discovery flew the first female shuttle pilot, Eileen Collins; the first Russian cosmonaut, Sergei Krikalev, and the first African American to walk in space, Bernard Harris.
Discovery led the U. S. back into space after the 2003 and 1986 shuttle Columbia and Challenger tragedies.
Mostly sunny skies and southeasterly breezes are forecast for Kennedy on Wednesday.
During activities on Tuesday, the astronauts checked out the ship’s flight control and communications systems. Imagery experts in Mission Control found Discovery’s fragile heat shielding in good shape for the high temperature descent to Earth as well.
After lifting off on Feb. 24, Discovery’s astronauts spent nine days at the space station, adding an equipment module as well as an external spare parts platform and carrying out two successful spacewalks.
Discovery was named for 17th and 18th century sailing ships that explored the Hudson Bay region of North America and the South Pacific, a tough legacy for any spacecraft to match.
“i think this Discovery has done that with flying colors,” said Discovery astronaut Mike Barratt. “She retires with all of the honors and dignity of any of those ships that made great discoveries. We salute Discovery with all the accolades she deserves.”
“We are all sad this is our last day in orbit,” Discovery commander Steve Lindsey told ABC News in an interview.
Discovery will be followed into retirement by Endeavour, which is tentatively scheduled to lift off on April 19 for an 14-day station supply mission, and Atlantis in late June, which will also visit the space station.
“I’m looking forward to bringing her home to the people who care for her most,” said Discovery astronaut Nicole Stott of the orbiter’s Florida homecoming.
After de-servicing, Discovery will be turned over to the Smithsonian Institution for display in the Air and Space Museum in Washington.