Discovery Leaves Station, Station Crew Awaits Japanese Cargo Vehicle

(NASA) – The population aboard the International Space Station is back to six following the departure of the space shuttle Discovery and its seven-member crew at 2:26 p.m. CDT Tuesday.

The shuttle crew’s newest member, Mission Specialist Tim Kopra, is returning to Earth after 44 days as a member of the station’s Expedition 20 crew, while his replacement, Nicole Stott, begins a three-month stay in orbit.

The Expedition 20 and STS-128 crews say goodbye before closing the hatches between the International Space Station and space shuttle Discovery. Credit: NASA TV

The space station crew will enjoy a day off Wednesday to rest up after the busy assembly mission. They’ll also prepare for the arrival of the next cargo delivery vehicle, the Japanese H-II Transfer Vehicle, scheduled for launch from Tanegashima, Japan, at 12:01 a.m. Thursday.