These Guys -- And Ladies -- Are Good

ANN REALTIME UPDATE 11.07.07 1302 EST: Touchdown! Moments ago, the space shuttle Discovery's 15-day mission to the International Space Station came to a textbook ending, as the orbiter rolled to a stop on runway 33 at the Shuttle Landing Facility near Kennedy Space Center.

Following a steep circle-to-landing approach to 33, Shuttle commander Pamela Melroy executed a near-flawless crosswind landing, and deployed the orbiter's 'chute to help bring the shuttle to a stop.

NASA personnel are now examining the orbiter's external condition, before approaching the hatch.

During its stay at the station, the STS-120 crew continued the on-orbit construction of the station with the installation of the Harmony Node 2 module and the relocation of the P6 truss.

The crew installed Harmony October 26, and did four spacewalks at the station. During the third spacewalk, the crew installed the P6 truss and solar array pair in its permanent location outboard of the port truss.

The fourth spacewalk was changed during the mission so that the crew could repair a torn solar array on the P6 truss. Following the successful repair work, the crew was able to fully deploy the solar array. A planned fifth spacewalk was deferred to accommodate the array repair mission.

Discovery also delivered a new station crew member, Flight Engineer Daniel Tani.

STS-120 was the 120th shuttle mission, and 23rd mission to visit the space station. It was the 34th trip into space for NASA's workhorse Discovery orbiter.

The next mission, STS-122, is slated to launch onboard Atlantis in December.

Nice job, everyone.

1202 EST: Both orbital maneuvering engines onboard the space shuttle Discovery have fired, beginning the orbiter's descent towards a scheduled landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida approximately 60 minutes from now.

NASA states the almost two-minute burn will slow the orbiter by 148 miles per hour, for reentry across the continental United States. As ANN reported Tuesday, the orbiter's reentry track will follow a southeasterly line from southwestern Canada, through the Dakotas, Nebraska, Arkansas, and Georgia, heading to touchdown at KSC at 1302 EST.

Original Report

NASA reports the seven astronauts onboard space shuttle Discovery completed final preparations Tuesday for their return home, with landing planned for the first of two opportunities to Florida's Kennedy Space Center at 1302 EST Wednesday.

In preparation for the return home, the crew (shown above) tested flight control systems and thruster jets, stowed equipment and installed a special reclining seat for Clayton Anderson, who is returning after more than five months on board the International Space Station.

Later, the crew oversaw an orbit adjust maneuver to optimize landing opportunities, with weather forecasts indicating favorable conditions for Wednesday’s landing.

Wednesday morning, Entry Team Flight Director Bryan Lunney and his team will oversee Discovery's reentry and landing with the deorbit burn set for 1159 EST. The one minute, 58 second burn will slow Discovery by 148 miles per hour (217 feet per second) for the reentry across the heartland of the United States traveling from the northwest to southeast.

A second landing opportunity also is available about 90 minutes later. Lunney will consider Florida only for Wednesday’s landing attempts, with plenty of consumables on board to stay in space through Saturday, if necessary. 

Stay tuned to ANN for continuing updates on Discovery's trip back home.

FMI: www.nasa.gov