The international space station ISS reports it is ready to welcome the STS-122 mission. Astronaut Daniel Tani is spending his last days at the station. He will return to earth aboard Discovery. ESA astronaut Léopold Eyharts will take his seat on the ISS. He will work in the Columbus lab module and start its scientific experiments. Eyharts is set to return with the STS-123 mission.
The ISS crew has also completed all leak checks, with the ISS in a top condition to receive the Colubus module.
Some more details from the NASA homepage:
The Expedition 16 crew members aboard the International Space Station are completing final preparations for the arrival of space shuttle Atlantis, set to launch Thursday from Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
On Wednesday, the Expedition 16 crew spent time reviewing spacewalk procedures and detailed timelines for joint operations with the STS-122 crew. Atlantis is scheduled to dock with the space station on Saturday.
During the STS-122 mission, the shuttle crew will conduct three spacewalks to install the Columbus Research module on the orbital outpost. STS-122 will also deliver a new station crew member, European Space Agency astronaut Leopold Eyharts.
Flight Engineer Dan Tani, who arrived at the station in October with STS-120, will return home aboard Atlantis.
Commander Peggy Whitson, Flight Engineer Yuri Malenchenko and Tani will enjoy an off-duty day Thursday.