Discovery Astronauts Prepare For Return To Earth

Houston, TX (AHN) – Seven astronauts are preparing to leave the International Space Station Monday for their return trip to Earth the following day via the Discovery space shuttle.

The astronauts will take with them a portable cargo module, 5,000 pounds of unneeded items from the ISS and one ISS crew, Tim Kopra, when the space shuttle undocks and leave Tuesday.

The ISS and Discovery crew will hold a farewell gathering before the leaving astronauts assemble inside the space shuttle and close the hatch dividing the spacecraft and the orbiting platform.

The Discovery is scheduled to land in Florida Thursday.

(image: NASA)

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