Endeavour undocks from International Space Station
By IANSFriday, February 19, 2010
LOS ANGELES - Space shuttle Endeavour has undocked from the International Space Station after successfully installing an additional observation deck at the research centre.
The six-member mission left the station Friday and will reach the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida Monday, NASA said in a press release.
As the vehicle parted with the ISS at 7.54 p.m. EST, pilot Terry Virts flew the shuttle to 450 feet in front of the station and then in a circle around the station before beginning the journey towards the earth, Xinhua reported.
The space mission was launched by the NASA Feb 8.
During the nine-day mission, astronauts installed the Tranquility node and a “cupola” with seven windows that will provide a panoramic 360 degree view of the earth, celestial objects and visiting spacecraft.
With the $400-million new equipment added, the station is now 98 percent complete in terms of volume and 90 percent in terms of mass. Four more shuttle visits are scheduled in the next seven months to supply additional equipment and spare parts to the space station, NASA said.
