SalemNews.com, Salem, MA

The Nation

March 7, 2011

Shuttle Discovery leaving space station last time

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Discovery is ready to leave the International Space Station for the last time.

The space shuttle is due to undock Monday morning. It won't land until Wednesday.

This is the final voyage for Discovery, the most traveled spaceship ever. It will be retired after this mission and sent to a museum.

Discovery and its crew of six spent more than a week at the space station, installing a new storage unit and an equipment platform.

Mission Control, meanwhile, is monitoring a piece of space junk that's threatening to come too close to the station. Experts will decide following Monday's undocking whether the station will need to move out of harm's way. The debris is an old rocket piece.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
The Nation

AP Video
Jodi Arias: Death Penalty Would Cause More Pain Protests Outside Cincinnati IRS Office Former Rep. Weiner Running for New York Mayor Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff Families Begin Returning to Their Homes in Moore Lawyer: Feds Investigating Susan Powell Case Raw: Aerial View of Moore Tornado Damage Crews Race to Find Survivors of Okla. Twister First Person: Baby Falcons on a New York Bridge Oklahoma: Images of Devastation, Reunion Reunited Dad, Son: 'We Just Praise God' Moore, Okla. City of Reunions, Tears After Storm Gov. Fallin: Okla. Facing Horrific Disaster Former IRS Chief: Can't Say How List Happened Arias Tells Jury What She'd Do if She Gets Life AP Photograher: 'It Was a Miracle' They Got Out Raw: Crews Search for Survivors of Okla. Tornado Raw: Tearful Reunion After Okla. Tornado OKC Hospital Describes Treating Tornado Wounded Obama Pledges Urgent Aid for Tornado Victims
NDN Video
DWTS Crowns a Winner Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal The Hangover Baby All Grown Up Olivia Munn Flaunts Her Bikini Bod Britney Spears Under Fire Once Again For Being A Bad Mom Arias Tells Jury What She'd Do if She Gets Life The all-new Xbox One RAW: Massive tornado strikes Oklahoma Nidal Hasan paid $278K while awaiting trial VIDEO: Teacher reunites mother and son after tornado levels elementary school in Oklahoma City Okla. tornado survivor finds dog buried alive under rubble Jennifer Lawrence Gets Naked and Painted Blue as X-Men's Mystique Pickler's Dance Moves Cause A Stir Obama to tornado survivors: The country stands beside you Reporter Cries Over Devastation