Article Posted on : - Apr 18, 2010

Space shuttle Discovery is seen from the International Space Station shortly after undocking. Photo: NASA TV

CAPE CANAVERAL (US) (AP): Discovery and its crew left the International Space Station Saturday and aimed for a homecoming in two days to wrap up one of the last missions of NASA's shuttle programme.

The space station residents were "really, really sad" to see their friends go. "But it's time," said Oleg Kotov, the station's Russian skipper.

"We enjoyed every minute of it," shuttle Commander Alan Poindexter said as Discovery backed away. "Thanks for the great hospitality."

Discovery undocked as the two spacecraft soared nearly 220 miles (354 kilometres) above New Guinea. Poindexter and his crew will work on Friday to get their ship ready for re-entry. Landing is scheduled for Monday morning.

A few hours earlier, the seven shuttle fliers and six station inhabitants wrapped one another in bear hugs before sealing the hatches between their spacecraft. The crews' matching knit shirts created a jumble of turquoise and maroon.

It may be a long time before so many people are together again in space. Only three shuttle flights remain, each with a crew of six. That's one less person than usual to allow more room for cargo, and will result in 12 people orbiting together, instead of 13.

Four of the 13 on this mission were women, a world record. The crowd included eight Americans, three Russians and two Japanese.

Unlike previous shuttle departures, there was no live, continuous TV from Discovery and therefore only a few limited still-shot views of the nearly completed space station.

Following the April 5 launch, Discovery's main antenna failed, resulting in a near picture blackout, at least on the shuttle side.