Shuttle Prepares to Quit Station

The crew of shuttle Endeavour prepared to undock from the International Space Station today after a leisurely Easter Sunday spent off-loading cargo, enjoying a holiday meal, and talking to family back home. The shuttle commander compared the flurry of work to wrap up the record-setting mission to March Madness: "It's wonderful to be in the tournament. We've won five games," said Dom Gorie, referring to the crew's five spacewalks.

The spacecraft is scheduled back on the home planet Wednesday, ending a 16-day trip in the longest shuttle mission ever to the space station. The primary purpose was to install the first piece of a Japanese science lab and Dextre, a Canadian robotic device. American Garrett Reisman will stay behind at the space station until June. (More space shuttle stories.)