The STS-135 crew members spent Wednesday getting themselves and space shuttle Atlantis ready for the return home. They practiced landings on a laptop application, performed the flight control system checkout and checked out the reaction control system thrusters. All checked out well.
They also deployed a small, eight-pound, 5″ X 5″ X 10″ technology demonstration satellite, called PicoSat, from a canister in the shuttle cargo bay. The satellite will relay data back to investigators on the performance of its own solar cells for analysis and possible use on future space hardware. PicoSat was the 180th and final payload deployed in space shuttle history.
The digital imagery group has completed its review of Atlantis’ heat shield and a final assessment will be reported later.