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WASHINGTON, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Russian navigation computers on the International Space Station received a passing grade following a test Monday morning. As a result NASA mission managers gave the Atlantis crew the nod to undock the shuttle from ISS on Tuesday, according to NASA mission updates.
During the computers meltdown last week, the shuttle's thrusters were used to help the station maintain its position. The test was to determine if the revived Russian computers were ready to control the station's orientation.
Now, the Atlantis crew is scheduled to bid farewell to the Expedition 15 crew before the hatches close at 6:23 p.m. EDT (2223GMT) Monday between Atlantis and the station. Atlantis is slated to undock at 10:42 a.m. (1442 GMT) Tuesday and land at Kennedy Space Center, Fla. on Thursday.
The crew will conclude final transfers before saying goodbye to their hosts, the Expedition 15 crew.
Atlantis arrived at the station June 10, delivering the new truss segment to the orbiting outpost. The crew installed the truss June 11 and conducted four space walks to activate the new component and assist in the retraction of an old solar array. During the third space walk, the crew repaired an out of position thermal blanket on the left orbital maneuvering system pod.
Atlantis also delivered a new station crew member, Flight Engineer Clayton Anderson. He replaced astronaut Sunita Williams, who is the new record holder for a long-duration single space flight for a woman. She arrived at the station in December with shuttle Discovery.
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