Space shuttle leaves station after 8 days

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., June 15 (UPI) -- Shuttle Endeavour departed the International Space Station Saturday, leaving behind a repaired and upgraded crane, new equipment for experiments and a fifth crew to oversee the orbital complex through mid-October.

Station astronaut Peggy Whitson rang the ship's bell as Endeavour pulled away from its berthing port at 10:32 a.m. ET, following a naval tradition set by the station's first commander, William Shepherd, a U.S. Navy captain.

"Expedition Four departing, Endeavour departing," Whitson radioed to the shuttle crew.

"Thank you Peggy, " replied returning station crewman Dan Bursch. "Smooth sailing to you and your crew."

Endeavour pilot Paul Lockhart gently pulsed the shuttle's steering jets to back away from the station, stopping at a point about 450 feet from the outpost to begin a slow "fly around" of the complex while his crewmates snapped pictures and shot video. The imagery will be used by engineers to assess the station's external wear-and-tear.

Whitson and her two Russian cosmonaut colleagues replaced Bursch, Carl Walz and commander Yuri Onufrienko, who were launched into orbit on Dec. 5, 2001. With the shuttle due back at the Kennedy Space Center Monday, the men will have spent 194 days in space, a new U.S. endurance record.

"We wish you a very wonderful flight," Endeavour commander Ken Cockrell radioed to Whitson and her crewmates as the shuttle finished its station survey. "We've completed our separation burn and we're heading home. Enjoy yourselves while you're here."

"OK," replied Whitson, "and thanks for the ride."