Mission

Undocking of the two spacecraft（Image credit: NASA）

The Space Shuttle Endeavour's crew left the International Space Station (ISS) at 9:25 a.m. today after completing a successful 12-day docked operation.

During the farewell, the ISS commander Peggy Whitson extended her gratitude to Leopold Eyharts, who has completed his duty as an ISS flight engineer, for his great work and contribution. She also thanked the STS-123 Mission crew for the successful joint mission. After Endeavour's crew returned to their spacecraft, the hatches between the two spacecrafts were closed.

After undocking, the STS-123 Mission pilot Gregory Johnson maneuvered Endeavour for fly-around operations. During the fly-around, shuttle crew took photos of the ISS's new configuration. In the photos taken by the shuttle crew, the Japanese Experiment Logistics Module-Pressurized Section (ELM-PS) and Dextre (Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator: SPDM) are seen as parts of the ISS.

From now on, the STS-123 Mission crew will prepare for the re-entry and landing. The ISS crew will prepare for the arrival of the Automated Transfer Vehicle (ATV) that is scheduled on April 3rd, 2008. They will have to adjust their sleep period gradually toward that arrival date.

Astronaut Doi's on orbit activities

Astronaut Doi deactivated the Rigidizable Inflatable Get-Away-Special Experiment (RIGEX) which he has activated yesterday night. He then checked the final transfer items that would be returned to the ground on the STS-123 Mission.

For further information, please refer to the NASA STS-123 Mission Status Report.

*All times are Japan Standard Time (JST)