Article Posted on : - May 24, 2010

Space shuttle Atlantis performs a flyaround of the International Space Station shortly after undocking. A NASA TV Photo

WASHINGTON (BNS): After completing three spacewalks and installing a new module at the International Space Station, the six-member crew on board Atlantis undocked from the orbital station on Sunday and prepared for its journey back home.

The shuttle undocked from the ISS at 1522 GMT and performed a flyaround of the station, NASA said.

Atlantis will undergo a late inspection of its heat shield on Monday. The crew members, on Tuesday, will check the shuttle's flight control surfaces and reaction control system.

They will also perform cabin stowage activities in preparation for a Wednesday landing at the Kennedy Space Centre scheduled for 12:48 GMT, NASA said.

During their 12-day stay at the ISS, the STS-132 crew delivered about 12 tonnes of equipment which included power storage batteries, a communications antenna and a radiator. The astronauts also installed the Russian-built Mini Research Module-1, ‘Rassvet’, at the orbital station.