Shuttle Atlantis undocks from International Space Station

The Columbus laboratory will boost the ISS' research capabilities

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Monday, 18, Feb 2008 01:16

Space shuttle Atlantis has undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) after its nine-day mission to expand the orbiting outpost's capabilities.

The crew of the STS-122 mission are performing a final inspection of the shuttle's heat shield in preparation for its return to Earth.

Atlantis is due to land at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Wednesday at 14:06 GMT (09:06 local time).

During their stay at the ISS the crew delivered the European Space Agency's (ESA) Columbus laboratory and performed three spacewalks to prepare the module for its scientific work.

They also replaced a used nitrogen tank on the station's P1 truss.

Flight engineer Leopold Eyharts, an ESA astronaut, has joined the team at the ISS, replacing Daniel Tani, who is returning to Earth onboard Atlantis.

The mission had been eagerly anticipated by European scientists, with Daniel Sacotte, Esa's director for exploration programmes, describing the installation of the Columbus laboratory as "the onset of a new era".

The module will expand the facilities of the ISS and provide scientists around the world with the ability to conduct a variety of experiments.

The next shuttle mission will see Endeavour visit the ISS after a scheduled March 11th launch.