The Discovery astronauts worked through a busy half day in space Thursday, enjoyed a meal with their space station colleagues and took the afternoon off, looking forward to a call from President Barack Obama later in the day. NASA managers, meanwhile, decided to extend Discovery's mission a second day to give the crew more time to help unload a newly attached storage module.

The Discovery and International Space Station crews huddle together for a joint photo inside the new Permanent Multipurpose Module. Credit: NASA

"We've just gotten official word that the MMT (Mission Management Team) has decided to go ahead and add the extra extra day so you'll have one more day on orbit," astronaut Megan McArthur radioed from Houston.

"All right, I'll pass that word along," replied Discovery commander Steven Lindsey. "That's great news. We're excited."

Discovery's 39th and final mission originally was scheduled to end March 7, but NASA managers decided Monday to extend the flight by one day to give the combined crews more time to unload the newly attached Permanent Multipurpose Module. The PMM, the International Space Station's final U.S. pressurized module, was launched aboard Discovery loaded with supplies and equipment, including a humanoid robot known as Robonaut 2.

Along with unpacking the new supplies and equipment, the astronauts also are moving packing material and no-longer-needed hardware from the PMM to a Japanese cargo ship that is scheduled to be jettisoned March 28. With Discovery in good shape, NASA managers decided Thursday to add a second docked day to the shuttle crew's timeline.

Under the revised flight plan, Discovery will undock from the space station at 7:03 a.m. Monday, March 7. After a final heat shield inspection and routine pre-entry tests of the shuttle's flight systems, Lindsey and pilot Eric Boe plan to guide the veteran spaceplane to its final landing at the Kennedy Space Center at 11:58 a.m. on March 9.

"We're seeing a program come to a close here and to see these shuttles, these beautiful, magnificent flying machines, end their service life is obviously a little bit sad for us," astronaut Michael Barratt told an interviewer earlier Thursday. "But it is about time, they've lived a very long time, they've had a fabulous success record, they've built this magnificent space station, they've given us lots of science and a tremendous amount of experience of just how to operate in space.

"More than anything, we look forward to seeing them retire with dignity and bringing on the next line of spaceships."

NASA released spectacular footage Thursday that was captured by cameras mounted on the shuttle's twin solid-fuel boosters showing Discovery's final climb to space Feb. 24. The cameras, looking down, up and sideways at the shuttle's external tank, showed a normal ascent with no obvious signs of foam loss or damage to the ship's heat shield.

NASA managers cleared the heat shield for re-entry earlier this week, after completing a detailed review of ground-, shuttle- and space station-based photography of Discovery's protective tiles, nose cap and wing leading edge panels.

For Discovery's crew, Thursday provided a welcome half day off to relax after a busy week in orbit. The astronauts were awakened just after 5 a.m. by a recording of U2's "City of Blinding Lights" beamed up from mission control.

"Good morning, Discovery," astronaut Michael Massimino called from Houston. "That comes to you from your crewmate on the Earth, Tim Kopra. That was going to be Tim's wakeup song and he asked us to play that for you today to honor his crewmates in space."

Kopra, the Discovery mission's original lead spacewalker, was injured in a bicycle accident in Houston in January and was replaced by astronaut Stephen Bowen.

"Thanks to Tim for that," replied Lindsey. "Even though he's on the ground, he did a wonderful job supporting us during the EVAs and as he knows, he's still with us right now."

The shuttle astronauts spent their morning moving cargo to and from the International Space Station while Expedition 26 commander Scott Kelly and flight engineer Catherine Coleman serviced one of the lab's two U.S. carbon dioxide removal units.

UPDATED: The official embroidered crew patch for shuttle Discovery's final flight is available in our store. Free shipping to U.S. addresses!
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VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 7 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: WEDNESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKER TAKES RIDE OF A LIFETIME PLAY
VIDEO: EUROPEAN EXPERIMENT BRACKET MOVED TO SHUTTLE PLAY
VIDEO: RESIDUAL AMMONIA VENTED FROM FAILED PUMP PLAY
VIDEO: WEDNESDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 2 PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 6 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: SEATTLE AND HOUSTON TV INTERVIEWS WITH CREW PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: 'NO GO' FOR SPACE STATION PHOTO OP PLAY
VIDEO: PERMANENT MULTIPURPOSE MODULE ATTACHED PLAY
VIDEO: ROBOT ARM MANEUVERS MODULE TO ITS NEW HOME PLAY
VIDEO: STATION'S NEW MODULE UNBERTHED FROM SHUTTLE PLAY
VIDEO: ROBOT ARM GRAPPLES MODULE ABOARD DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: ORBITAL SUNRISE OVER PMM BEFORE LEAVING SHUTTLE PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: ANIMATED EXPLANATION OF NEW MODULE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF MODULE INSTALLATION PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: LOOKING OUT THE PILOT'S WINDOW PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 5 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S FLIGHT EXTENDED ONE DAY PLAY
VIDEO: EVA NO. 1 CONCLUDES PLAY
VIDEO: JAPANESE "MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE" CAPTURES SPACE PLAY
VIDEO: FAILED PUMP COVERED UP WITH THERMAL BLANKET PLAY
VIDEO: GRAPPLE FIXTURE MOVED FROM PUMP TO OTHER SPARE PLAY
VIDEO: AMMONIA VENTING TOOLS ATTACHED TO FAILED PUMP PLAY
VIDEO: BOLTS ENGAGED TO HOLD OLD PUMP IN STORAGE BOX PLAY
VIDEO: FAILED PUMP MODULE FINALLY PUT INTO ENCLOSURE PLAY
VIDEO: ROBOT ARM SWINGS STEVE BOWEN AROUND THE STATION PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKER HOPS ABOARD STATION'S ROBOT ARM PLAY
VIDEO: MONDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF SPACEWALK NO. 1 PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 4 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: CREW'S HOME MOVIES FROM FLIGHT DAY 4 PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: WX CHANNEL, BOSTON, ATLANTA, TAMPA INTERVIEWS PLAY
VIDEO: MISSION MANAGEMENT TEAM UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: SUNDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: SUNDAY MORNING FLIGHT DIRECTOR INTERVIEW PLAY

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 3 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: EXPRESS LOGISTICS CARRIER NO. 4 INSTALLED PLAY
VIDEO: SPACE STATION ARM INCH-WORMS TO NEW BASE PLAY
VIDEO: PAYLOAD HANDED FROM STATION ARM TO SHUTTLE ARM PLAY
VIDEO: SPARE PARTS PLATFORM HOISTED FROM SHUTTLE PLAY
VIDEO: STATION ROBOT ARM GRAPPLES ELC 4 PALLET PLAY
VIDEO: SPACEWALKING SUITS MOVED INTO AIRLOCK PLAY

VIDEO: SATURDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE CREW WELCOMED ABOARD STATION PLAY
VIDEO: DOCKING OF SHUTTLE TO STATION AS SEEN LIVE PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE ARCS OUT IN FRONT OF SPACE STATION PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY PERFORMS THE 360-DEGREE BACKFLIP PLAY
VIDEO: BEAUTIFUL VIEWS OF SHUTTLE DURING RENDEZVOUS PLAY
VIDEO: SPACECRAFT COMMANDERS TALK FROM AFAR PLAY
VIDEO: TERMINAL INITIATION BURN SEEN FROM STATION PLAY
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE OF DISCOVERY MANEUVERING PLAY
VIDEO: ANIMATED EXPLANATION OF ELC NO. 4 INSTALL PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF THE DOCKING PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: GUIDED TOUR OF SHUTTLE'S PAYLOAD BAY PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 2 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: FRIDAY'S MISSION STATUS BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: NARRATED PREVIEW OF FLIGHT DAY 2 ACTIVITIES PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: FLIGHT DAY 1 HIGHLIGHTS MOVIE PLAY
VIDEO: PAYLOAD BAY DOORS OPENED IN SPACE PLAY

VIDEO: THE FULL STS-133 LAUNCH EXPERIENCE PLAY
VIDEO: SHUTTLE DISCOVERY BLASTS OFF! PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: GO INSIDE MISSION CONTROL DURING LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: EXTERNAL TANK CAMERA: LIFTOFF TO ORBIT PLAY
VIDEO: AERIAL VIEWS AROUND THE CAPE PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: VAB ROOF PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PRESS SITE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD PERIMETER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: BEACH TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAMERA 070 PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD CAMERA 071 PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: UCS-23 TRACKER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PLAYALINDA BEACH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: PAD FRONT CAMERA PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH REPLAY: WEST TOWER CAMERA PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS LEAVE CREW QUARTERS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW FINISHES GETTING SUITED UP PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: LOOK BACK AT THE LAUNCH DELAYS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: NARRATED REVIEW OF SHUTTLE'S PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: NARRATED REVIEW OF PAYLOADS' PREPARATIONS PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE OF PAD GANTRY ROLLBACK PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH PAD GANTRY ROLLED BACK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: INSIDE CONTROL ROOM WHEN COUNT STARTED PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: UNIQUE VIEWS OF SHUTTLE ON THE PAD PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: THE PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S COUNTDOWN IS UNDERWAY PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH COUNTDOWN PREVIEW AND WEATHER FORECAST PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE AT LAUNCH SITE AGAIN PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DISCOVERY CLEARED FOR LAUNCH ON FEB. 24 PLAY

VIDEO: STEVE BOWEN BEGINS CREW TRAINING PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: SUN RISES OVER SPACEPORT AFTER ROLLOUT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SHUTTLE ARRIVES ATOP LAUNCH PAD 39A AGAIN PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CROWDS CHEER ON DISCOVERY'S ROLLOUT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DISCOVERY RE-EMERGES FROM THE VAB PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH TEAM PRACTICES PROCEDURES PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: FRESH FOAM APPLIED TO EXTERNAL TANK PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: ROOT CAUSE OF SHUTTLE TANK CRACKS FOUND PLAY

VIDEO: REPAIRS AND STRENGTHENING TO TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DIGITAL X-RAY INSPECTIONS IN THE VAB PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: WORK UNDERWAY TO REMOVE FOAM AND SENSORS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SETTING UP ACCESS PLATFORMS AROUND TANK PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: SHUTTLE ROLLED BACK TO ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DISCOVERY DEPARTS LAUNCH PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LUNAR ECLIPSE OVER DISCOVERY PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FUELING TEST PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: RECAP OF THE FUELING EXERCISE PLAY
VIDEO: FUELING TEST COUNTDOWN UPDATE PLAY
VIDEO: COMMENTS FROM SHUTTLE LAUNCH DIRECTOR PLAY
VIDEO: GROUND UMBILICAL CARRIER PLATE CHECKED PLAY
VIDEO: INFO ON EXTERNAL TANK INSTRUMENTATION PLAY
VIDEO: DETAILED INFORMATION ON SPECIAL FUELING TEST PLAY

VIDEO: SHUTTLE DISCOVERY'S LAUNCH DELAYED TO FEBRUARY PLAY

VIDEO: FINAL PREPS FOR INSTRUMENTED TEST PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: STRAIN GAUGES ATTACHED TO TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: BACKSCATTER INSPECTIONS OF TANK MIDSECTION PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: INSTALLING DOUBLERS OVER STRINGERS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: GASEOUS HYDROGEN VENT ARM RETURNED PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DOUBLERS TO BEEF UP CRACKED BEAMS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: HYDROGEN FITTING IS REINSTALLED PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: OPENING UP TANK'S ENTRANCE DOOR PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: GUCP DETACHED AND SEALS REMOVED PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: BROKEN FOAM REMOVED FROM THE TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: VENT ARM LETS GO FROM LEAKY GUCP PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DISCOVERY AWAITS REPAIRS TO TANK PROBLEMS PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: INFORMATIVE DESCRIPTION OF TANK CRACK PROBLEM PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S LAUNCH DELAYED TO MID-DECEMBER PLAY

VIDEO: GASEOUS HYDROGEN VENT ARM DETACHED FROM SHUTTLE PLAY

VIDEO: STS-133 MISSION PREVIEW MOVIE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SHUTTLE DISCOVERY CREW BIOGRAPHIES PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ISS EXPEDITION 25-26 PREVIEW MOVIE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SPACE STATION CREW BIOGRAPHIES PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: POST-SCRUB NEWS BRIEFING ON LEAK PLAY
VIDEO: GASEOUS HYDROGEN LEAK SCRUBS LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: BAD WEATHER DELAYS DISCOVERY LAUNCH PLAY
VIDEO: ELECTRICAL ISSUE NO LONGER A CONCERN FOR DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH POSTPONED BY ELECTRICAL CONCERN PLAY
VIDEO: TUESDAY MORNING'S COUNTDOWN STATUS CHECK PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S PRE-LAUNCH NEWS CONFERENCE PLAY
VIDEO: COUNTDOWN PREVIEW BRIEFING AND WEATHER FORECAST PLAY
VIDEO: ANOTHER 24-HOUR DELAY ORDERED TO FINISH REPAIRS PLAY
VIDEO: LAUNCH DELAYED 24 HOURS BY LEAK REPAIRS PLAY

VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS ARRIVE FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: FLIGHT READINESS REVIEW SETS LAUNCH DATE PLAY

VIDEO: SHUTTLE AND STATION PROGRAM BRIEFING PLAY
VIDEO: THE STS-133 MISSION OVERVIEW PRESENTATIONS PLAY
VIDEO: PREVIEW BRIEFING ON MISSION'S SPACEWALKS PLAY
VIDEO: IN-DEPTH BACKGROUND ON ROBONAUT 2 HUMANOID PLAY
VIDEO: THE ASTRONAUTS' PRE-FLIGHT NEWS BRIEFING PLAY

VIDEO: PAYLOAD BAY DOORS CLOSED FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW LEAVES KSC FOR TRIP TO HOUSTON PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS INSPECT THE PAYLOAD BAY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SHUTTLE EVACUATION PRACTICE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS EGRESS SHUTTLE AS SEEN LIVE PLAY
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS BOARD DISCOVERY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SUN RISES ON LAUNCH PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LAUNCH DAY REHEARSAL BEGINS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: COMMEMORATIVE WALL SIGNING IN VAB PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW BRIEFED ON EMERGENCY PROCEDURES PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: IN SHUTTLE TRAINING AIRCRAFT'S COCKPIT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: TEST-DRIVING AN EMERGENCY ARMORED TANK PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH STEVE LINDSEY PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH ERIC BOE PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH AL DREW PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH TIM KOPRA PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH MIKE BARRATT PLAY
VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH NICOLE STOTT PLAY

VIDEO: PAYLOADS INSTALLED INTO DISCOVERY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: MISSION PAYLOADS ARRIVE AT LAUNCH PAD PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CANISTER HAULING PAYLOADS TURNED UPRIGHT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: MODULE HOISTED INTO SHIPPING CANISTER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: WEIGHING NEW SPACE STATION MODULE PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: GANTRY PLACED AROUND DISCOVERY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SHUTTLE ATLANTIS REACHES PAD 39A PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CROWDS WATCH DISCOVERY'S FINAL ROLLOUT PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: SHUTTLE HOISTED FOR ATTACHMENT TO TANK PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CRANE ROTATES THE ORBITER VERTICALLY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DISCOVERY DEPARTS ITS HANGAR PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE SHOWS DISCOVERY ASCENDING IN VAB PLAY
VIDEO: TIME-LAPSE SHOWS THE MOVE TO ASSEMBLY BUILDING PLAY

VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S MAIDEN FLIGHT: FIRST TRIP TO VAB PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S MAIDEN FLIGHT: ROLLOUT TO PAD 39A PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S MAIDEN FLIGHT: TEST-FIRING ENGINES PLAY
VIDEO: DISCOVERY'S MAIDEN FLIGHT: ASSORTED VIEWS OF FRF PLAY

VIDEO: THE HISTORY OF SHUTTLE DISCOVERY PLAY
VIDEO: THE HISTORY OF SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR PLAY
VIDEO: THE HISTORY OF SHUTTLE ATLANTIS PLAY

VIDEO: INSPECTION OF THE MISSION PAYLOADS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ROBONAUT ARRIVES AT KENNEDY SPACE CENTER PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: SPACE STATION'S SPARE THERMAL RADIATOR PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: BLANKETING LEONARDO WITH INSULATION PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: RACK INSERTED INTO LEONARDO FOR LAUNCH PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: LEONARDO RETURNS FROM ITS PREVIOUS FLIGHT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: STATION'S SPARE PARTS DEPOT ARRIVES PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: ORBITER'S PAYLOAD BAY CLOSED FOR ROLLOUT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: ASTRONAUTS VISIT THEIR SPACECRAFT PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: CREW INSPECTS LEONARDO MODULE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: DISCOVERY RECEIVES ITS MAIN ENGINES PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: FUEL TANK MATED TO SOLID ROCKET BOOSTERS PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: HOISTING FUEL TANK INTO CHECKOUT BAY PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: EXTERNAL FUEL TANK UNLOADED FROM BARGE PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: MISSION'S FUEL TANK ARRIVES AT SPACEPORT PLAY | HI-DEF

VIDEO: POST-FLIGHT DESERVICING: OMS POD PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: POST-FLIGHT DESERVICING: OBSS BOOM PLAY | HI-DEF
VIDEO: POST-FLIGHT DESERVICING: ENGINES PLAY | HI-DEF
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