NASA Johnson Space Center, Texas - February 18, 2008 — Parting is such sweet sorrow, William Shakespeare wrote in “Romeo and Juliet.” Yet that line probably seemed appropriate for the crew aboard space shuttle Atlantis Monday as they departed the International Space Station en route to Earth.
STS-122 arrived at the station Feb. 9, delivering Columbus, the European Space Agency laboratory. The crews installed Columbus Feb. 11 and conducted three spacewalks to prepare Columbus for its scientific work. They also replaced an expended nitrogen tank on the station’s P1 truss.
In addition, Atlantis delivered a new station crewmember, Flight Engineer Leopold Eyharts, an ESA astronaut. He replaced astronaut Daniel Tani, who is returning to Earth aboard Atlantis.
“I love being here on the station,” Tani said Saturday during a press conference, noting it’s exciting and the view is great. “But obviously, I want to get back to see my family.”
Tani said he’s also looking forward to several other things, too — putting several foods on one plate and not having it float away, and spitting out toothpaste in the sink, rather than having to swallow it.
In addition, he said he is writing up notes, such as how to maximize communication with the ground, to pass on when astronauts find themselves up on the station during a family tragedy. Tani was on the ISS when his mother died in December after a train struck her vehicle.
Atlantis is scheduled to land at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Wednesday after their stay was extended two days to ensure the newly installed laboratory was running properly.
Commander Peggy Whitson and Mission Specialist Leland D. Melvin celebrated birthdays on board. Did they do anything special?
Installing the Columbus module was special, Whitson said during the press conference, which was held inside Columbus. “It’s a beautiful module. Plus I had lots of chocolate and salsa to keep me happy.”
Melvin said they also celebrated with traditional things, too, such as a cake and a happy birthday sign.
Endeavour moves to launch pad
Space shuttle Endeavour arrived at Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center at 4:45 a.m. EST Monday, and is targeted to lift off March 11 on the 16-day STS-123 mission.
The STS-123 mission will deliver the first section of the Japan
Aerospace Exploration Agency's laboratory and the Canadian Space
Agency's two-armed robotic system. Five spacewalks will be conducted during the flight.
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View of the International Space Station from the space shuttle Atlantis. Photo credit: NASA
The STS-122 and Expedition 16 crews bid one another farewell Sunday. Photo credit: NASA TV
Pilot Alan Poindexter maneuvers space shuttle Atlantis as it undocks from the International Space Station.
Photo credit: NASA TV
Late 2008 shuttle dates
•August 28 - Atlantis (STS-125) to service the Hubble Space Telescope
•October 16 - Endeavour (STS-126) to deliver equipment to the International Space Station
•December 4 - Discovery (STS-119) to deliver the final set of solar arrays to the station.
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