STS 127 Astronauts Set to Leave Space Station

The Japanese Experiment Module - This Module was Installed during the Mission

The 13 people aboard the International Space Station will say their farewells and split up Tuesday when the crew of the shuttle Endeavour undocks from the orbiting laboratory.

Endeavour's seven-astronaut crew is due to cast off from the space station at 1:26 p.m. EDT (1726 GMT), marking an end to nearly a week and a half of construction work alongside the outpost's six residents.

The joint crew has been the highest population ever for the station and the largest single gathering in space by humans in history. All 13 astronauts, who represent each of the five major international partners building the station, plan to hold a brief farewell ceremony at about 10:23 a.m. EDT (1423 GMT).

Smooth mission
The shuttle launched toward the space station July 15 on a marathon 16-day mission to the orbiting laboratory.

Its six-man, one-woman crew delivered a new member of the station's Expedition 20 crew, vital spare parts and the last piece, an external experiment porch, for the outpost's massive Kibo laboratory. Five challenging spacewalks - including two tricky excursions to replace old solar array batteries - were performed.

Built by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), the $1 billion Kibo is made up of three segments: the new porch, a giant laboratory the size of a tour bus, and a smaller storage attic, each of which had to be launched to the station separately on NASA shuttle flights over the last two years. Astronauts put the final touches on the Kibo lab during their fifth and final spacewalk on Monday.

Endeavour will return Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata back to Earth when it lands in Florida on Friday.

Before departing the space station for good, Endeavour will fly around the orbital laboratory in a sort of victory lap. Shuttle pilot Doug Hurley will be at Endeavour's helm during the maneuver while his crewmates snap photographs of the outpost's new look with its brand new porch. Read More

[SOURCE: SPACE.COM]