Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/2010/05/24/atlantis_undocks/

Wallace & Gromit rouse Atlantis crew

Shuttle undocked, prepares to return home

By Lester Haines

Posted in Science, 24th May 2010 07:40 GMT

Space shuttle Atlantis undocked from the International Space Station yesterday, following the crew's successful completion of their STS-132 mission tasks.

During three spacewalks, mission specialists Steve Bowen, Michael Good and Garrett Reisman swapped out six nickel-hydrogen battery units on the station's Port 6 truss, as well as installing a second space-to-ground Ku-band antenna for the orbiting outpost.

The Atlantis astronauts were this morning treated to the theme tune of Wallace & Gromit as their wake-up call, played for Steve Bowen. He said: "Thank you to my family, Debbie and the boys; it's another great day in space."

The shuttle crew will today perform a "late inspection of the shuttle's thermal protection system" ahead of Wednesday's planned return to Earth. ®