Mission Extended an Additional Day

Space Shuttle and International Space Station managers decided today to extend the STS-133 mission by an additional day, providing more time to unpack and outfit the Permanent Multipurpose Module and fill the H-II Transfer Vehicle (HTV-2) with trash before its planned late-March undocking.

At 3:35 p.m. EST, shuttle Capcom Megan McArthur told Discovery Commander Steve Lindsey and station Commander Scott Kelly about the extension.

With the added day, Discovery will undock from the station on Monday, March 7 at 7:03 a.m. EST and begin the ISS fly around at 7:33 a.m. The deorbit burn will occur Wednesday, March 9 at 10:55 a.m. EST. Landing at Kennedy Space Center will follow at 11:58 a.m. EST.