[sarex] Discovery Cleared for Landing; First Attempt Monday

[Arthur Rowe <azrowe80@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

SUBMITTED BY ARTHUR N1ORC - AMST A/C #31468

The Mission Control Center told the STS-121 crew this morning that 
engineers have cleared Space Shuttle Discovery for landing after 
completing a review of post-docking inspection data.

The crew members received the word while eating lunch. They are 
preparing for landing today by stowing items, testing engines and 
checking out shuttle systems.

The astronauts will take a break from their work to talk to reporters 
with CNN, CBS, ABC, NBC and the Fox News Channel at 12:03 p.m. EDT.

Landing is set for 9:14 a.m. EDT Monday at the Kennedy Space Center, 
Fla. The crew is scheduled to fire the shuttle’s engines at 8:07 a.m. to 
begin Discovery’s descent to Florida.

A second landing opportunity in Florida also is available for Monday. 
The crew would fire the engines at 9:43 a.m. for a landing at 10:50 a.m. 
Weather forecasts call for a chance of showers at the landing site. 
Flight controllers do not plan to consider any landing site other than 
Florida on Monday.

Discovery delivered supplies, equipment and a new Expedition 13 crew 
member to the International Space Station. During three spacewalks, the 
crew performed maintenance on the station’s mobile transporter and 
tested orbiter heat shield techniques.
----
Via the sarex mailing list at AMSAT.ORG courtesy of AMSAT-NA.
To unsubscribe, send "unsubscribe sarex" to Majordomo@amsat.org