Update for 3:45 p.m. EST, Saturday, Nov. 9Population of the International Space Station returned to its usual three residents of Valery Korzun, Peggy Whitson and Sergei Treschev now that a visiting Soyuz taxi crew has departed the orbiting laboratory.
The Soyuz TM-34 spacecraft undocked at 3:44 p.m. EST as the outpost flew 243 miles above eastern Asia.
Inside are commander Sergei Zalyotin, flight engineer Yuri Lonchakov and European Space Agency astronaut Frank DeWinne. They have spent the past eight days living and working with the Expedition Five crew.
Their primary mission was to deliver a new Soyuz TMA lifeboat to the ISS and return home in the older Soyuz TM capsule, which has been docked to the station since April.
The Soyuz TMA model is a newer version of the Soyuz TM that features improved cockpit instruments and displays, and allows a wider range of people to fit into the cramped descent module during launch and landing.
A Soyuz spacecraft remains docked to the station at all times to serve as a crew rescue vehicle for the long duration Exhibition crews. They are certified to remain in space for 200 days so must be replaced every six months.
The taxi crew are scheduled to return to Earth later today. Their de-orbit burn is planned for about 6:10 p.m. EST. That will set up their final descent and landing by parachute in Kazakhstan at 7:04 p.m. EST.
Meanwhile, the Expedition Five crew won't have to wait long for more company to show up. Shuttle Endeavour is set to carry seven humans up to the station, launching early Monday for a docking late Tuesday.
For complete coverage of the shuttle mission and Expedition Five's return to Earth, please see our STS-113 Shuttle Mission page.
-- Jim Banke, Senior Producer in the Cape Canaveral Bureau.
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