Discovery Mission: STS-116

Space Shuttle Discovery lands at Kennedy Space Center, in Cape Canaveral Fla. on Friday, Dec. 22, 2006.

Some of Space Shuttle Discovery's crew seen next to the orbiter shortly after landing at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Friday Dec. 22, 2006. From left are: Mission Specialists Robert Curbeam, Joan Higginbotham, Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot William Oefelein and Mission Specialist Christer Fuglesand with the European Space Agency. Missing are Mission Specialists Nicholas Patrick and Thomas Reiter also an ESA astronaut.

With a blue and white Earth behind it, the space shuttle Discovery (not shown) backs away from the international space station after its undocking, Tuesday Dec. 19, 2006. The shuttle was headed back to Earth, with a return planned for Dec. 22.

European Space Agency (ESA) astronaut Christer Fuglesang, shuttle Discovery STS-116 mission specialist, participates in the mission's second of three planned sessions of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction resumes on the International Space Station Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006.

Space Shuttle Discovery astronaut Robert L. Curbeam, Jr. participates in the mission's first of three planned sessions of extravehicular activity (EVA) as construction resumes on the international space station. Tuesday Dec. 12, 2006.

A view of the nose and part of the crew cabin of space shuttle Discovery is shown during a back-flip performed by the spacecraft's crew while approaching the International Space Station, Monday Dec. 11, 2006. Discovery reached the international space station on Monday for a weeklong stay, part of a 12-day mission, to continue construction on the lab and to rotate out a crew member.

The payload bay is seen through windows on the aft flight deck of space shuttle Discovery, Sunday Dec. 10, 2006. Pictured in the payload bay is the Spacehab module and the Canadian-built Remote Manipulator System (RMS) robotic arm is at left. The shuttle's docking mechanism is visible in the foreground.

Astronauts William A. Oefelein, bottom, and Robert L. Curbeam, Jr., work with lithium hydroxide canisters beneath space shuttle Discovery's middeck, Sunday Dec. 10, 2006.

Astronaut Sunita L. Williams, right and European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang, enjoy a light moment as they prepare to open food packages on the middeck of space shuttle Discovery, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2006.

European Space Agency astronaut Christer Fuglesang of Sweden, uses a computer on the middeck of Space Shuttle Discovery during flight day two activities, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2006. Discovery and its crew reached the international space station on Monday for a weeklong stay to continue construction on the orbiting lab and rotate out a crew member.

We Have Liftoff!

The Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off on mission STS-116 at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006. It is the first night launch of a shuttle in some 4 years.

The Space Shuttle Discovery lifts off on mission STS-116 at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006. It is the first night launch of a shuttle in some 4 years.

The Space Shuttle Discovery streaks across the sky over Daytona Beach, Fla., after lift off from Kennedy Space Center, Saturday, Dec. 9, 2006.

This image provided by NASA shows the Space Shuttle Discovery as it sits on Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39-B Thursday Dec. 7, 2006 in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The launch was scrubbed by bad weather. NASA rescheduled the launch for Saturday night.

NASA employees leave a viewing site Thursday evening Dec. 7, 2006 at the Kennedy Space Center after the launch of the Space shuttle Discovery was scrubbed in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The launch was scrubbed due to bad weather. NASA rescheduled the launch for Saturday night.

The Space Shuttle Discovery sits on Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center in Titusville, Fla., Thursday, Dec. 7, 2006. NASA hoped to launch Discovery Thursday in a rare night launch weather permitting -- weather did not permit.

Space Shuttle Discovery is seen with the rotating service structure surrounding it on pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla., Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006. A seven member crew is to dock at the International Space Station. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

The STS-116 crew, shown in this official NASA handout photo, front row from left, Pilot William Oefelein, Mission Specialist Joan Higginbotham, and Commander Mark Polansky. Back row, from left, are, Mission Specialist Robert Curbeam, British born U.S. Mission Specialist Nicholas Patrick, Mission Specialist Sunita Williams, and European Space Agency Mission Specialist Christer Fuglesang, of Sweden,

Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters gestures as she speaks during a countdown status briefing Wednesday Dec. 6, 2006 at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. NASA officials had downgraded their forecast of favorable weather for Thursday night's planned liftoff of the space shuttle Discovery.

Day To Discovery — AP Photo/Peter Cosgrove

A sign leading to Kennedy Space Center's Vehicle Assembly Building reads one day to launch of the space shuttle Discovery Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2006, in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The launch was scrubbed.