De-orbit burn complete: Discovery is under way to land at the Kennedy Space Center.
Latest updates:
1552 GMT (10:52 a.m. EST)
DEORBIT BURN IGNITION. Flying upside down and backwards above the east-central Indian Ocean, shuttle Discovery has begun the deorbit burn. The firing of the twin Orbital Maneuvering System engines on the tail of the shuttle will last 2 minutes and 27 seconds, slowing the craft by about 200 mph to slip from orbit. The retro-burn will send Discovery to Kennedy Space Center in Florida for a pinpoint touchdown at 11:57 a.m. EST.
1553 GMT (10:53 a.m. EST)
Both engines continue to fire, each producing about 6,000 pounds of thrust.
1553 GMT (10:53 a.m. EST)
DEORBIT BURN COMPLETE. Discovery has successfully completed the deorbit burn for the trip back home. Landing is scheduled for 11:57 a.m. EST at the Cape to conclude this mission to the space station and Discovery’s final flight.
1557 GMT (10:57 a.m. EST)
Sixty minutes to touchdown. Discovery is maneuvering to the orientation for entry. The shuttle will hit the upper atmosphere at 11:25 a.m.
1600 GMT (11:00 a.m. EST)
Discovery is passing 215 miles above the southwestern tip of Australia.
1607 GMT (11:07 a.m. EST)
Now 50 minutes from touchdown at the Kennedy Space Center to conclude Discovery’s 12-day, 19-hour, 4-minute flight. The orbiter will weigh 204,736 pounds at landing, which is 63,884 pounds lighter than when it launched.
Video and updates here.
http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts133/status.html
Video can also be seen here.
http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/
http://www.fromil.com/tv/index.php?radio=5