Live In Orbit: Shuttle & Station Crews Say Farewell

The joined crews of Discovery and the International Space Station held a farewell ceremony inside the orbiting outpost today and then hatches between the ships were closed in advance of the shuttle's scheduled departure at 3:53 p.m.

Gathering inside the station' U.S. Harmony module, the 10 space travelers reflected on the STS-119 shuttle mission to the station -- a mission during which the astronauts completed construction of the station's central truss and deployed the station's fourth and final set of massive American solar wings.

Discovery's crew delivered Koichi Wakata, who is the first Japanese astronaut to serve a long-duration stint on the outpost, and they'll return to Earth Saturday with Sandy Magnus, who flew up to the station aboard shuttle Endeavour last November and has spent 134 days in space, 121 as a station flight engineer.

Station skipper Mike Fincke, who will be returning to Earth next month with Russian cosmonaut Yury Lonchakov, started the traditional ceremony.

"You've made the space station much better than it was before. You gave us more power, symmetry -- which is not to be underrated -- and you gave us a new crew member. You're giving Sandy a ride back home. You brought up some equipment that we really needed for a six-person crew. And that's what we were really hoping to get done on Expedition 18 -- was getting ready for a six-person crew," Fincke said.

"And Sandy, the six-person crew, when they get up here, they're going to be thanking you for all your organization and all your hard work -- the things that you've built onboard. You've done an outstanding job and I'd to say thank you," he said.

"All of you guys, this is the toughest part of the mission, at least me. On the one hand, it's a moment of triumph when you shut the hatches and get ready and undock. And yet on the other hand, we're going too be really missing you, Brew. It was really great having you up and all the things we got to talk about and do together -- I mean, that's what the dreams in our lives are made of," he said.

"So thank you everybody. Thank you very much."

Discovery mission commander Lee Archambault then took the microphone.

"On behalf of our crew -- the STS-119 crew, which now includes Sandy -- we are very, very appreciative for all the hospitality that you all extended to us. You were very well prepared for us. You were happy to help us where we needed help. You were key and instrumental in getting three good EVAs out the door and back in safely," Archambault said.

"We're very proud to have left the space station with more power -- hopefully power that for many, many years will provide very, very useful research, to your future payloads," he said.

"We're most proud, though, of working with a great international team, which we have three countries represented here - our country, the United States; Yury's country -- Russia; and Koichi's country of Japan," he added.

"Yury, you know, many of us didn't know you very well before we got here, but you're a great crewmate. We all would be very proud to work long-duration with you, Yury. Thanks you very much for welcoming us in and for being such a great crew partner," Archambault said.

"And Koichi, it's going to be tough to leave you, but you are a great crew member of STS-119. I've very, very proud that your with us. You're on our patch, and like I say, you're always going to be a member of STS-119. You've done a lot of great work for us. and I wish you the very best. And we do look forward to seeing you back in Houston when your expedition is over," he said.

Archambault then turned to Fincke, who is nicknamed "Spanky" because people think he looks like one of the characters on the TV show "Our Gang," also known as "The Little Rascals."

"And Spank, you're an awesome commander. Best of luck. You have just another couple of weeks here. You have happy travels. Let's get together when you get back. Thank you very much."

Discovery's undocking will mark the end of an eight-day stay at the outpost -- one during which the shuttle astronauts delivered, installed and unfurled the station's fourth and final set of U.S. solar wings.

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