Fri, Mar 04, 2011
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.
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