Discovery undocks from the space station

HOUSTON, June 11 (UPI) -- U.S. space shuttle Discovery undocked from the International Space Station Wednesday at 7:42 a.m. EDT, ending a nearly nine-day visit to the orbital outpost.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration's STS-124 crew arrived at the station June 2, delivering the Japanese Pressurized Module -- the second pressurized component of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory.

In addition, NASA said the STS-124 astronauts delivered Expedition 17 Flight Engineer Greg Chamitoff, who replaced Garrett Reisman, now a mission specialist returning to Earth aboard Discovery.

The crew performed three spacewalks while at the station.

Discovery moved a slight distance from the space station and conducted a more than four-hour examination of the shuttle's wings and nose to determine whether any damage occurred during lift off from the Kennedy Space Center.

NASA controllers in Houston said the shuttle is scheduled to return to Earth Saturday and land at the space center.