Live in Orbit: Second satellite pair deployed

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The Endeavour crew deployed a second pair of small scientific satellites at 1:22 p.m EDT today while preparing to return to Earth on Friday.

The 19-inch spheres, weighing 50 and 25 kilograms, will be monitored as they re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and burn up. Instruments in the satellites will gather data on atmospheric density.

This morning a pair of small satellites, built by students from the University of Texas at Austin and Texas A&M, were launched from the shuttle payload bay. The twin miniature satellites will separate and collect Global Positioning System data to advance autonomous rendezvous and docking techniques.

For a third consecutive day, important NASA business is taking place at the same time as the mission.

You can continue to watch live coverage of Endeavour's mission by clicking here to open the live video feed of NASA TV's Public Channel.

For live coverage of today's Human Space Flight Plans committee meeting in Cocoa Beach, click here to open the live video feed of NASA TV's Media Channel.