Special Updates Leading to the Undocking of Atlantis from ISS

Sunita Williams is returning to Earth. The malfunctioning computers have received a fix and Sunita, Suni, has beamed down her song of farewell, as is stated in a special CBS News Coverage of STS-117 report. Beginning with the CBS Updated for June 18, the special coverage reports the following:

10:15 A.M., 6/18/07, Update: Williams bids tearful farewell to station

Suni has broken the record for female presence in space aboard the International Space Station (ISS). The previous record was held by Shannon Lucid who stayed 188 days and four hours aboard the old Russian Mir space station. Suni Williams is now the most experienced woman is space.

While broadcasting her farewells, Suni's voice was tearful and halting, as CBS reports. The emphasis of Suni's speech was exploration. She says she believes the spirit of exploration lives "inside each and every one of us" and that although exploration may not always be "necessary or always logical" she believes that we are all born with a "curiosity called exploration."

Suni went on to say that her six months of space exploration has given a an appreciation for all the "folks" and "their families" who "have dedicated their lives to ensure the success of astronauts and cosmonauts." Although the audio transmission was cut and part of Sunni's words are missing, she is clearly heard to say, "curiosity called exploration for the next generation."

After acknowledging that her departure and her replacement by Clay Anderson "mean progress is being made" and ISS is growing, she beamed down her farewell song, "Goodbye My Lover" by James Blunt. Some of the lyrics say:

You touched my heart you touched my soul.

You changed my life and all my goals.

...

Goodbye my friend...

You have been the one for me.

Her second farewell serenade was the Bee Gee's hit song "Stayin' Alive:"

Stayin' alive.

Stayin' alive.

Ooo Ooo Ooo Ooo

Stayin' alive.

Russian cosmonaut and ISS commander Fyodor Yurchikhin then told mission controllers that "we had a real great time with Suni here. She did a great job in space." He then wished Suni and all the shuttle crew "a good trip and a safe trip...And good luck.," as CBS reports.

11:38 A. M., 6/18/07, Update: Critical orientation control test goes smoothly

A critical test of ISS computers and rocket thrusters was performed, CBS reports. Computers and rocket thrusters are integral to ISS orientation and orbit.

The system needed to be judged to be working properly following the crippling computer failures last week. In the final steps of the test, the Russian thruster system was switched to control of U. S. computers. All systems worked together as required. ISS was kept stable and pointed in the right direction.

NASA reviewed the results from the test "checkout operation." With no additional problems showing up, the astronauts were to be cleared to sealed hatches in the evening of June 18, 2007.

10:45 A. M., 6/19/07, Update: Atlantis undocks from space station

Sailing over New Guinea, Atlantis unlocked from ISS with pilot Lee Archambault at the controls. The time of unlock was 10:42 A. M, CBS reports.

ISS Commander Fyodor Yurchikhin followed naval tradition by ringing the bell in the Destiny module. Captain Sturckow of the Atlantis responded, "Thank you ISS...We'll see you back on Earth."

As Atlantis crept away from ISS at one tenth of a mile an hour, Clay Anderson was left behind to begin his mission of exploration in space and Sunita Williams began her journey homeward to planet Earth. She had been in space on ISS for six months and broke the record for a female astronaut or cosmonaut in space.

As a final farewell, Atlantis, piloted by Archambault, makes a 360-degree fly around so that crewmates can photograph ISS with its new solar arrays in place and fully functioning. Photographic images show all sides of ISS for documentation.

The final task of Atlantis is to search for, via the ship's robot arm, "any micrometeoroid impacts that may have occurred while" in orbit, in order to "ensure the integrity" of Atlantis's outer "thermal protection system," as CBS reports Flight Director Cathy Koerner saying.

According to NASA, Atlantis will spend Wednesday preparing for landing, which is expected to be on Thursday at Kennedy Space Center, Florida. If Florida has clouds and thunderstorms, then the weather at Edward Air Force Base in California is expected to be clear.

William Harwood, Updates: "Williams bids tearful farewell to station; Critical orientation control test goes smoothly; Shuttle crew bids farewell; Atlantis undocks from space station." CBS News Coverage of STS-117. URL: http://www.cbsnews.com/network/news/space/current.html