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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Shuttle crew departs space station

Associated Press

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Space shuttle Endeavour is on its way home.

The shuttle undocked from the International Space Station late Sunday, ending nearly two weeks of joint flight. Endeavour is due back on Earth early Wednesday.

Endeavour is being retired after this mission. Only one other shuttle flight remains, by Atlantis this summer.

Shuttle commander Mark Kelly was the last to leave the space station, lingering for a few seconds with the three space station residents.

“We’re looking forward to getting home,” Kelly said, “and we’re going to leave these guys to some peace and quiet and not disturb their space station anymore.”

Kelly got a special musical send-off from his wife, Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. The Arizona congresswoman is recuperating in Houston from a gunshot wound to the head.

Sunday night’s wakeup call was “Slowness” by Calexico, a Tucson, Ariz., band. Kelly said the song references places in Tucson that his wife “really, really” wants to get back to. He said that’s coming soon.