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Astronauts Get To Relax After 2 Spacewalks

CAPE CANAVERAL (CBS4) -- The astronauts in orbit at the International Space Station are will be getting a break.

The two crews of the linked space shuttle and space station will get some precious time off Thursday afternoon. NASA officials say it's well deserved, following Wednesday's successful spacewalk.

Before relaxing, the astronauts will work on an air purifier aboard the space station.

Discovery will remain at the space station until Sunday. The shuttle astronauts are staying an extra day to help outfit the new storage room installed Tuesday. There's a possibility that yet another bonus day might be added, which would stretch the mission to 13 days.

Once Discovery returns to Earth next week, the shuttle will be decommissioned and sent to the Smithsonian Institution for display.

(© 2011 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)

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