Also onboard the shuttle is the station’s next crew member, US-born Navy test pilot Commander Sunita Williams. She has also worked with the Russian Space Agency on the Russian contribution to the station, and worked with the first Expedition Crew to stationed to the ISS in November 2000.

Discovery is slated to stay at the station until December 18, returning to Earth on Thursday December 21. NASA engineers are keen to have the ship and crew safely on the ground before New Years Day, as the shuttle's navigation software is not designed to handle the new year roll over.{moscomment}