Closing out a successful resupply mission, two Discovery astronauts, operating the International Space Station's robot arm, detached a cargo module from the lab complex late Monday and returned it to the shuttle's cargo bay for the trip back to Earth Thursday.

One orbit later, the seven shuttle fliers bid farewell to the station's six-person crew and floated back into Discovery for the last time, setting the stage for undocking Tuesday afternoon.

"Well Gennady, all good things come to an end," shuttle commander Frederick Sturckow told station skipper Gennady Padalka. "There were many challenges on this mission and they were surmounted through the great efforts of the combined crews working together with our mission control centers in Houston and Moscow. Thank you very much to you and your crew for your wonderful support during the 17A docked mission.

"Thank you very much for these warm words," Padalka replied. "The ISS crew was very happy to help you, we tried to do our best. You did a great job associated with space station building, supplies and maintenance."

A few minutes later, after a final round of hugs and handshakes, the shuttle astronauts floated back into Discovery's cabin. Shortly after that, at 11:11 p.m. EDT, hatches between the two spacecraft were closed.

The farewell ceremony followed the routine-but-intricate transfer of the Leonardo module from the station's Harmony cabin to the shuttle's cargo bay, the final chapter in a busy mission to deliver some nine tons of equipment and supplies to the space station.

Loaded with 2,412 pounds of no-longer-needed hardware and trash, the Leonardo multi-purpose logistics module was disconnected from the station's forward Harmony module around 8 p.m. Shuttle pilot Kevin Ford and Jose Hernandez, operating the space station's robot arm, carefully moved the module to Discovery's payload bay where it was locked down shortly after 9 p.m.

Along with 1,950 pounds of hardware returning on a pallet directly behind Leonardo, and another 861 pounds of gear stowed in the shuttle's crew cabin, Discovery will be bringing home 5,223 pounds of no-longer-needed equipment, parts and trash. In contrast, the shuttle crew delivered 18,548 pounds of equipment and supplies, most of it inside the Leonardo module.

With the cargo module safely stowed, Discovery's space station resupply mission was over. The combined 13-member shuttle-station crew held a brief farewell ceremony around 10:30 p.m. before closing hatches between the two spacecraft in preparation for undocking Tuesday afternoon.

Outgoing flight engineer Timothy Kopra, whose stay in space was shortened because of a month-long launch delay, will join Sturckow, Ford, Hernandez, John "Danny" Olivas, Patrick Forrester and European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang for the trip back to Earth.

His replacement, Nicole Stott, will remain behind aboard the station with Expedition 20 commander Padalka, Michael Barratt, cosmonaut Roman Romanenko, European Space Agency astronaut Frank De Winne and Canadian astronaut Robert Thirsk.

Undocking is targeted for 3:26 p.m. Tuesday. Landing back at the Kennedy Space Center is expected around 7:05 p.m. Thursday, weather permitting.

"Special thanks to crewmate Tim Kopra," Padalka said Monday evening. "Thank you for working with us. Unfortunately, your flight wasn't so long as you wanted, but that's life. Nevertheless, we would like to be sure that you'll be assigned as soon as possible, for the next flight! OK guys. Have a safe trip and have a safe landing."

"Thank you very much," Sturckow replied.

Barratt then rang the ship's bell in the Harmony module, following naval tradition by formally announcing "U.S. space shuttle Discovery, departing. ISS flight engineer Col. Timothy Kopra, departing."

Flight controllers are studying a possible close encounter between the space station and debris from a Chinese satellite early Wednesday on two successive orbits.

Shuttle Flight Director Tony Ceccacci said a preliminary assessment showed the debris from a Chinese weather satellite that was deliberately destroyed in a test of anti-satellite technology, would pass within about 31 miles of the station around 3:30 a.m. Wednesday and within about 16 miles one orbit later.

The debris poses no threat to the shuttle and flight controllers are optimistic the same will hold true for the station. If necessary, however, Russian thrusters can be used to raise the station's orbit slightly if a more refined assessment indicates an actual threat.

Additional coverage for subscribers:
VIDEO: MONDAY EVENING'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: FAREWELL BETWEEN SHUTTLE AND STATION CREWS PLAY
VIDEO: LEONARDO MODULE RETURNED TO THE PAYLOAD BAY PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ANSWER QUESTIONS SUBMITTED BY PUBLIC PLAY
VIDEO: TELEMUNDO, TAMPA AND UNIVISION CREW INTERVIEWS PLAY
VIDEO: EL PASO AND AUSTIN TELEVISION CREW INTERVIEWS PLAY
VIDEO: JOSE HERNANDEZ LIVE INTERVIEWS FROM ORBIT PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 10 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: EUROPEAN SPACE AGENCY ASTRONAUT EVENT PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 10 PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 9 PLAY
VIDEO: SUNDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY

VIDEO: POST-EVA MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 9 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: FUGLESANG'S HELMET-CAM COMES LOOSE PLAY
VIDEO: ROUTING AVONICS CABLES FOR TRANQUILITY PLAY
VIDEO: FAILED ORIENTATION SENSOR REMOVED PLAY
VIDEO: WORK TO DEPLOY PAYLOAD MECHANISM PLAY
VIDEO: EVA NO. 3 BEGINS PLAY
VIDEO: SATURDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY

VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 8 PLAY
VIDEO: INTERNATIONAL CREW NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 8 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: FRIDAY AFTERNOON'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: FRIDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY

HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7: SPACEWALKERS COME BACK INSIDE PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7: MORE WORK WITH LEONARDO PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 7: OLIVAS AND FUGLESANG ON EVA PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 7 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 7 PLAY
VIDEO: POST-EVA MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: OLD TANK MOVED TO SHUTTLE FOR RECYCLING PLAY
VIDEO: NEW TANK HOOKED UP TO STATION UMBILICALS PLAY
VIDEO: CHRISTER FUGLESANG CARRIES NEW AMMONIA TANK PLAY
VIDEO: PREPS IN SHUTTLE BAY TO UNPACK NEW AMMONIA TANK PLAY
VIDEO: DANNY OLIVAS FLOATS OUT OF AIRLOCK TO START EVA PLAY
VIDEO: THURSDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: STEP-BY-STEP SUMMARY OF SPACEWALK NO. 2 PLAY

HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 6: PREPPING FOR NEXT EVA PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 6: MOVING FROZEN SCIENCE PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 6: EMPTYING OUT LEONARDO PLAY

HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: SPACEWALKERS CELEBRATE PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: OLIVAS AND STOTT ON EVA NO. 1 PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: COLBERT TREADMILL UNPACKED PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 5: SPACEWALKERS GET SUITED UP PLAY

HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 4: LEONARDO MODULE OPENED PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 4: MOVING ITEMS FROM SHUTTLE PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 6 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 6 PLAY
VIDEO: WEDNESDAY NIGHT'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: WEDNESDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: POST-EVA MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS PUT THIRD EXPERIMENT IN SHUTTLE PLAY
VIDEO: BRIEFCASE-LIKE PACKAGE RETRIEVED FROM STATION PLAY
VIDEO: EUROPEAN PAYLOAD MOVED FROM STATION TO SHUTTLE PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKERS FREE COOLANT TANK FROM TRUSS PLAY
VIDEO: DANNY OLIVAS DISCONNECTS OLD AMMONIA TANK PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS EMERGE FROM AIRLOCK TO START EVA PLAY
VIDEO: OVERVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 5 ACTIVITIES PLAY
VIDEO: STEP-BY-STEP SUMMARY OF SPACEWALK NO. 1 PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY NIGHT'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED OVERVIEW OF THE LEONARDO PAYLOAD PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS OPEN UP AND ENTER LEONARDO MODULE PLAY
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE OF LEONARDO MODULE'S INSTALLATION PLAY
VIDEO: LEONARDO CARGO MODULE ATTACHED TO STATION PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY'S MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY

HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 3: NICOLE STOTT ABOARD STATION PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 3: UNITING STATION AND SHUTTLE PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 3: JOIN THE CREW DURING DOCKING PLAY
HIGH DEFINITION TV DAY 3: LIFE ON RENDEZVOUS DAY PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: SUNDAY NIGHT'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE CREW WELCOMED ABOARD STATION PLAY
VIDEO: DOCKING RING RETRACTED TO JOIN TWO CRAFT PLAY
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE OF DOCKING FROM CENTERLINE PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE FLIES OUT IN FRONT OF STATION PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY PERFORMS 360-DEGREE BACKFLIP PLAY
VIDEO: BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF DISCOVERY APPROACHING PLAY
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE VIEW FROM SHUTTLE DOCKING PORT PLAY
VIDEO: STATION CAMERA CATCHES DISCOVERY'S "TI BURN" PLAY
VIDEO: SUNDAY'S MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF RENDEZVOUS AND DOCKING PLAY
VIDEO: THE MOON SINKS BELOW TAIL OF DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 2 PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS' HOME MOVIES: DAY 1 PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: SATURDAY NIGHT'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF SHUTTLE INSPECTIONS PLAY

VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: INSIDE MISSION CONTROL ROOM PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: VAB ROOF PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PRESS SITE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD PERIMETER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: BEACH TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAEMRA 070 PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAEMRA 071 PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: UCS-23 TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PLAYALINDA BEACH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD FRONT CAMERA PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PATRICK AIR FORCE BASE PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: POST-LAUNCH BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: THE FULL LAUNCH EXPERIENCE PLAY
VIDEO: LIFTOFF OF SPACE SHUTTLE DISCOVERY! PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: COMMANDER RICK STURCKOW BOARDS DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: PILOT KEVIN FORD BOARDS SHUTTLE DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION SPECIALIST PAT FORRESTER BOARDS DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION SPECIALIST JOSE HERNANDEZ BOARDS SHUTTLE PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION SPECIALIST DANNY OLIVAS BOARDS DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION SPECIALIST CHRISTER FUGLESANG BOARDS PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION SPECIALIST NICOLE STOTT BOARDS DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS LEAVE CREW QUARTERS BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW FINISHES GETTING SUITED UP PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: NARRATED MISSION OVERVIEW MOVIE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: MEET SHUTTLE DISCOVERY'S ASTRONAUTS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: NARRATED REVIEW OF SHUTTLE'S PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: NARRATED REVIEW OF PAYLOADS' PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: THE "COLBERT" TREADMILL PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: MANAGERS EXPLAIN REASON FOR SECOND SCRUB PLAY
VIDEO: WEATHER SCRUBS FIRST COUNTDOWN PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS DEPART QUARTERS FOR PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW GETS SUITED UP FOR LAUNCH ATTEMPT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD SERVICE GANTRY ROLLED BACK PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH RICK STURCKOW PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH KEVIN FORD PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH PAT FORRESTER PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH JOSE HERNANDEZ PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH DANNY OLIVAS PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH CHRISTER FUGLESANG PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH NICOLE STOTT PLAY

VIDEO: AMERICAN AND EUROPEAN PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO: THE LAUNCH COUNTDOWN GETS UNDERWAY PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE AT THE CAPE FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW SETS LAUNCH DATE PLAY

VIDEO: SHUTTLE AND STATION PROGRAM UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: THE STS-128 MISSION OVERVIEW BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: PREVIEW BRIEFING ON MISSION'S SPACEWALKS PLAY
VIDEO: THE ASTRONAUTS' PRE-FLIGHT NEWS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE PROGRAM MANAGER EXPLAINS FOAM ISSUES PLAY

VIDEO: PAYLOAD BAY DOORS CLOSED FOR FLIGHT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: MISSION CARGO LOADED ABOARD DISCOVERY PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: CREW TOURS PAD'S CLEANROOM PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SHUTTLE EVACUATION PRACTICE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS BOARD DISCOVERY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: THE LAUNCH DAY SIMULATION BEGINS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: PAD BUNKER TRAINING FOR THE CREW PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW BRIEFED ON EMERGENCY PROCEDURES PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: NIGHTTIME APPROACHES IN TRAINING AIRCRAFT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: TEST-DRIVING EMERGENCY ARMORED TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: INFORMAL CREW NEWS CONFERENCE AT LAUNCH PAD PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE FOR PRACTICE COUNTDOWN PLAY

VIDEO: SHUTTLE DISCOVERY ROLLS OUT PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ORBITER HOISTED FOR MATING TO TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DISCOVERY MOVED TO ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE OF DISCOVERY ARRIVING IN VAB PLAY

VIDEO: PAYLOADS DELIVERED TO LAUNCH PAD PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LEONARDO PUT INTO TRANSPORTER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: STATION'S NEW AMMONIA TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: MPLM HATCH CLOSED FOR FLIGHT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: INSIDE SHUTTLE MAIN ENGINE SHOP PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW EQUIPMENT INTERFACE TEST PLAY | HI-DEF
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