Live in Orbit: Mission Briefing Next

NASA managers are expected to update the condition of shuttle Endeavour and its landing plans during a 2:30 p.m. briefing that you can watch live here on The Flame Trench. Just click on the image at left.

Mission specialist Don Pettit has sent NASA's Mission Control Center some pictures of what appeared to be small pieces of debris floating from the shuttle's payload bay during checkout of flight control systems earlier today, as seen from the shuttle's aft windows.

Officials are analyzing the images. So far, tests of the shuttle's landing systems show them in good condition for a possible Sunday touchdown, though the forecast at Kennedy Space Center is not very favorable.

In interviews with several media outlets this afternoon, the seven astronauts reflected on their mission's success.

"Right now, the evening before landing, of course as the commander of the flight, my mind is on the landing, but I'm extremely satisfied with what this fine crew has accomplished," said mission commander Chris Ferguson.

"I've just had a great time and I'm looking forward to getting back down to Earth," said Shane Kimbrough, one of the mission's three spacewalkers. "I think getting back to gravity is going to be a little tougher than I expect, but we'll see how it goes tomorrow, hopefully."

Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, the lead spacewalker, admitted that it has been frustrating to answer so many questions about the tool bag lost during the first of four spacewalks after she let go of it.

But, she rationalized, "If it's something that's going to get people interested in space, then I guess it's not all bad."

Don Pettit's last return to Earth, at the end of his tour as an Expedition 6 science officer on the International Space Station, came via ballistic re-entry inside a Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

"It's sort of the difference between flying economy class and flying business class," he said. "So I'm flying business class home this time."

Greg Chamitoff is flying home on the shuttle after ending his own six-month station tour with Expeditions 17 and 18.

"I'm really looking for to seeing my kids and my family," he said.

The crew also includes pilot Eric Boe and mission specialist Steve Bowen.