Discovery cleared for return to Earth

HOUSTON, July 9 (UPI) -- NASA officials Sunday cleared the Space Shuttle Discovery for a return to Earth on schedule at the end of its mission.

Crews from the shuttle and the International Space Station held a news conference Sunday and prepared for a spacewalk Monday.

The spacewalk was scheduled for 8:13 a.m. EDT Monday.

During the traditional joint news conference, NASA notified the nine crew members the orbiter's thermal protection system was 100 percent cleared for entry on July 17.

"That is great news, that's fantastic," said shuttle Cmdr. Steve Lindsey.