The US space agency on Friday extended the shuttle Discovery's mission to the International Space Station by another day, adding a total of two days to the shuttle's final mission before retirement.
Discovery and its six-member crew of American astronauts will now return to Earth on Wednesday, March 9, after a 13-day stay at the orbiting lab.
Earlier this week, NASA added one day to the initial 11-day trip plan.
"The additional days are to allow Discovery's crew more time to help the International Space Station crew members get the Leonardo Permanent Multipurpose Module unpacked and set up for permanent life in orbit," NASA said.
Astronauts will also work on more equipment repairs with their extra day.
The shuttle blasted off from Kennedy Space Center on February 24, on its last trip into orbit before it becomes the first of the three remaining US shuttles to become museum pieces later this year.
Endeavour is to lift off on April 19 followed by Atlantis on June 28, marking the official end of the US space shuttle program after 30 years.
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