Discovery Cleared To Return To Earth Saturday Morning

The crew members of space shuttle Discovery spent their last full day in orbit getting ready for their return home, and the end of the STS-124 mission... but not without a bit of drama.

NASA reports that after completing a standard day-before-landing test of the shuttle steering jets Friday, the crew members indicated they saw an object floating away from the shuttle from behind the rear portion of the right wing. Shortly afterwards, the crew described what they called a "bump" on the left side trailing edge of Discovery's rudder.

Experts on the ground examined images and video of the object and the "bump," and determined that there were no concerns for entry and landing. Scientists on the ground identified the debris as a clip used to protect the speed brake from heating during the ascent into orbit, and determined it poses no concern for re-entry.

The STS-124 astronauts also set up the recumbent seat for Mission Specialist Garrett Reisman, who joined the crew of Discovery on the International Space Station. Reisman, who served as Expedition 17 flight engineer for three months, was replaced on the station crew by NASA astronaut Greg Chamitoff.

STS-124 arrived at the station June 2, delivering the Japanese Pressurized Module (JPM), the second and largest component of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory. The tour bus-sized JPM was attached to the left side of the Harmony connecting node by shuttle and station crew members during a series of three spacewalks.

Discovery is scheduled to land at Kennedy Space Center, FL at 1115 EDT Saturday.

FMI: www.nasa.gov