Mission Control informed space shuttle Discovery Commander Alan Poindexter that mission managers are extending the flight by one day to enable a standard late inspection of the shuttle heat shield to occur while the shuttle is docked to the International Space Station.
Since Discovery’s Ku-Band communications system is not functioning correctly, the space station’s Ku system will transmit the heat shield video and laser scan to Mission Control for imagery experts to analyze.
Landing now is targeted for 8:54 a.m. EDT Monday, April 19.