Astronomy

Astronauts working on the shuttle Discovery have undocked from the International Space Station earlier today and have begun the journey back to home. Before leaving the space station the crew left behind a new bus-sized room, spare parts and the newest member of the orbital laboratory’s Expedition 16 team - U.S. astronaut Dan Tani - who replaced fellow spaceflyer Clay Anderson after tearful goodbyes on Sunday.

“I miss you already. Fly safe, get home safe,” Tani said after Discovery cast off from the space station at 5:32 a.m. EST (1032 GMT) while both spacecraft flew 218 miles (350 kilometers) above the South Pacific Ocean. “Thanks not only for the great ride up, but also the last year and a half together. I owe you one.” The multinational crew of astronauts also relocated a massive piece of the space station’s backbone, deployed its older solar arrays and carried out an emergency repair when one array wing snagged and tore during its unfurling.

Commander Pamela Melroy and her crew spent about 10 days docked with the orbital laboratory, which is now more than 60 percent complete. During those days, she made history as one of two female spacecraft commanders aboard the floating laboratory with ISS commander Peggy Whitson.

“It’s just been an honor and a privilege to share the command of this mission with you,” Melroy told Whitson yesterday before sequestering her crew inside Discovery. The 46-year-old California native also thanked the rest of her crew. “We simply could not have accomplished the mission without everybody’s help,” Melroy said Sunday. “This is one that we will always remember.”