NASA STS-133 Report #25 4:45 p.m. CST Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas

HOUSTON – Discovery crew members spent much of their day getting ready to come home. Their first landing opportunity is Wednesday at 10:57 a.m. CST at Kennedy Space Center.

Commander Steve Lindsey, Pilot Eric Boe and Mission Specialist Nicole Stott powered up Discovery’s flight control system and tested the flaps and rudder that will control the shuttle’s flight once it enters the Earth’s atmosphere. Next they test-fired the jets that will control the shuttle before it reaches the atmosphere.

Next Lindsey and Boe worked with the Ram Burn Observations (RAMBO) experiment. They did burns of an orbital maneuvering system engine for the experiment, aimed at bettering understanding spacecraft engine plumes.

The crew spent considerable time stowing items in Discovery’s cabin in preparing for re-entry and landing. All participated in a deorbit briefing before lunch. After the meal the crew took time off from packing to talk with representatives of ABC News, CBS News and The Associated Press.

The crew’s day had gotten off to a rocking start, with a live rendition of Blue Sky sung by guitar-wielding Todd Park Mohr of Big Head Todd and the Monsters. It was the first live performance of wakeup music in Mission Control. The song, written for Discovery’s return to flight mission after Columbia’s loss, won NASA’s Top 40 wakeup song contest.

That was terrific, Lindsey radioed down to Mohr. We really appreciate it and congratulations on winning the contest.

Mohr, with his three band members in the control center, thanked Lindsey for his courage, bravery and your effort in just giving all of us a better shot at knowing more. It’s very inspirational to the arts as well.

The crew is to begin its sleep period at 6:23 p.m. The next status report will be issued after the crew’s wakeup call, again set for 2:23 a.m. Wednesday, or earlier if warranted.