Shuttle Atlantis Headed Home

INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION (AP) - The crew of the shuttle
Atlantis has been taking a close-up laser survey of the shuttle's
wings to check for any micrometeorite damage that may have happened
in orbit.
The shuttle undocked from the international space station early
this morning after a successful nine-day mission to deliver and
install a new science lab. Atlantis took a lap around the space
station so crew members could take pictures of its new
configuration.
Pilot Alan Poindexter says the crew is looking forward to
heading home.
Atlantis is scheduled to land Wednesday. NASA wants the shuttle
down that day so the military will have enough time to safely shoot
down a damaged spy satellite.
NASA is already planning the next shuttle flight. Endeavor is
scheduled to launch March 11th.

Space Shuttle Factoids:
ATLANTIS MISSION
-- Kennedy Space Center, backup landing site in California will
be ready
-- crew installed European orbital lab
-- laser survey performed to check for wing damage
(Shuttle Columbia was destroyed in 2003 because foam hit wing
during launch)
-- Atlantis crew arrived at station Feb. 9
-- heading home after four months at station is astronaut Daniel
Tani
-- Tani's his mother, Rose, was killed in a car accident while
he was in space (supposed to fly home aboard Atlantis in December, but fuel
gauge problems delayed trip)

NEXT MISSION
-- Shuttle Endeavour
-- set for launch March 11
-- made slow trip to launch pad earlier today

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)