Shuttle gets 1 more inspection before heading home

[March 26, 2009]  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- Space shuttle Discovery will get one more safety inspection before it heads home from the international space station.

Late Thursday morning, the astronauts will use a laser-tipped inspection boom to survey the shuttle's wings. The images will be relayed immediately back to Mission Control, so engineers can look for any signs of micrometeorite damage.

It's standard procedure that was put in place after the 2003 Columbia disaster.

Discovery and its seven-person crew are due back on Earth on Saturday.

The shuttle undocked from the international space station Wednesday, beaming down stunning pictures of the orbiting outpost with all its solar wings. The last set of wings was delivered and installed by Discovery's crew.

[Associated Press]

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