President Obama Rings Up ISS For A Conversation

Space Shuttle and International Space Station managers decided today to extend the STS-133 mission by an additional day, providing more time to unpack and outfit the Permanent Multipurpose Module and fill the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV-2) with trash before its planned late-March undocking.

At 1535 EST, shuttle Capcom Megan McArthur told Discovery Commander Steve Lindsey and station Commander Scott Kelly about the extension.

With the added day, Discovery will undock from the station on Monday, March 7 at 0703 EST and begin the ISS fly around at 0733. The deorbit burn will occur Wednesday, March 9 at 1055 EST. Landing at Kennedy Space Center will follow at 1158 EST.

Meanwhile, President Barack Obama made a long-distance call to the dozen members of the Discovery and International Space Station crews a little after 1700 EST.

"We are always inspired by the images of you guys at work as you work to put some of the final pieces in place to make the ISS fully operational," Obama told the space fliers, traveling five miles a second 221 miles above the Earth. "You are setting such a great example with your dedication, your courage, your commitment to exploration. Col. Lindsey, it must be a great honor to be the last commander of Discovery."

"On behalf of the crew, it's a real privilege for us to get to fly Discovery on her final mission. We think that when we land, Discovery will have flown in space for 365 days," said Discovery Commander Steve Lindsey.

The crew members also discussed with the president the delivery of the humanoid Robonaut 2 and international cooperation, exhibited by the presence of vehicles and components from all of the program's partners.

FMI: www.nasa.gov