2 space crews mark 1 week together in orbit

[March 05, 2011]  CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) -- The astronauts aboard the orbiting shuttle-station complex will share a few more maintenance chores before they part company.

On Saturday, the two crews will work on the air system at the International Space Station. They also will make sure a Japanese cargo carrier is properly loaded with trash. It will be let loose at the end of this month and plunge through the atmosphere. The vessel is full of packing foam from all the equipment that was delivered by Discovery.

The shuttle arrived last Saturday.

The hatches between the two craft will close Sunday afternoon. And the shuttle will undock first thing Monday.

It's the last voyage for Discovery. It will be retired following Wednesday's touchdown and put in a museum.

[Associated Press; By MARCIA DUNN]

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