April 16, 2010

Astronauts put cargo carrier back on space shuttle

By MARCIA DUNN , AP Aerospace Writer

In this image provided by NASA, Space Shuttle and International Space Station crew members gather for a group portrait in the Kibo laboratory of the International Space Station while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station Wednesday April 14, 2010. Space Shuttle crew members pictured (light blue shirts) are NASA astronauts Alan Poindexter, commander; James P. Dutton Jr., pilot; Clayton Anderson, Rick Mastracchio, Dorothy Metcalf-Lindenburger, Stephanie Wilson and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Naoko Yamazaki. Expedition 23 crew members pictured are Russian cosmonauts Oleg Kotov, commander; Mikhail Kornienko and Alexander Skvortsov; Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Soichi Noguchi, and NASA astronauts T.J. Creamer and Tracy Caldwell Dyson. (AP photo/NASA)

(AP) -- A cargo carrier is back aboard space shuttle Discovery.

The astronauts began their work day Friday by installing the carrier in Discovery's payload bay. The job was supposed to be completed Thursday. But problems with the latching system delayed its removal from the International Space Station.

The giant container is filled with more than two tons of trash and discarded equipment, for return to Earth.

Next up is the shuttle survey. The astronauts will use a 100-foot, laser-tipped boom to inspect Discovery's heat shield for any signs of micrometeorite damage. The survey normally is conducted following undocking. But an antenna failure prompted NASA to move up the operation.

Discovery is due to depart Saturday.

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