Endeavour heads for Earth after space station mission
Tuesday, 25 Mar 2008 13:37
Endeavour's 12-day mission installed two key components at the International Space Station
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Space shuttle Endeavour has undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) and begun its return to Earth.
Endeavour left the orbiting outpost on Monday evening after a 12-day stay designed to improve its facilities.
The shuttle is scheduled to land at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday.
The STS-123 crew performed five spacewalks during the mission, installing the first section of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's (JAXA) Kibo laboratory and the Canadian Space Agency's two-armed robotic system, known as Dextre.
The first Kibo instalment, the Experiment Logistics Module-Pressurised Section (ELM-PS) will hold experiment samples, maintenance tools and other spare items that will be used in the Kibo laboratory.
JAXA said the mission marks a major advancement in Japan's space development activities.
Dextre will be attached to the ISS' robotic arm to handle smaller components typically requiring a spacewalking astronaut.
At the tip of each arm is a 'hand' that consists of retractable jaws used to grip objects.
The STS-123 astronauts also delivered Expedition 16 flight engineer Garrett Reisman, who replaced European Space Agency astronaut Leopold Eyharts on the station.
Mr Reisman will return to Earth on shuttle Discovery's STS-124 mission, targeted for launch on May 25th, 2008.