AMSAT-UK - Discovery Cleared for Landing; First Attempt Monday

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Discovery Cleared for Landing; First Attempt Monday

The Mission Control Center told the STS-121 crew this morning that engineers have cleared Space Shuttle Discovery for landing after completing a review of post-docking inspection data.

The crew members received the word while eating lunch. They are preparing for landing today by stowing items, testing engines and checking out shuttle systems.

The astronauts will take a break from their work to talk to reporters with CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC and the Fox News Channel at 12:03 p.m. EDT.

Landing is set for 9:14 a.m. EDT Monday at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla. The crew is scheduled to fire the shuttle’s engines at 8:07 a.m. to begin Discovery’s descent to Florida.

A second landing opportunity in Florida also is available for Monday. The crew would fire the engines at 9:43 a.m. for a landing at 10:50 a.m. Weather forecasts call for a chance of showers at the landing site. Flight controllers do not plan to consider any landing site other than Florida on Monday.

Discovery delivered supplies, equipment and a new Expedition 13 crew member to the International Space Station. During three spacewalks, the crew performed maintenance on the station’s mobile transporter and tested orbiter heat shield techniques.

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