By Thomas Moore, science correspondent
The astronauts’ 10.5-hour journey back to Earth starts with the automated undocking procedure.
First the connecting corridor between the Dragon capsule and space station is depressurised.
Then the power cables are retracted.
Once mission control is satisfied the spacecraft and astronauts are ready, they send the command to release the 12 hooks that lock Dragon to the ISS.
A gentle firing of the capsule’s thrusters – Burn Zero – pushes it away, with further firing slowly increasing the separation distance.
But it won’t be until 7.51am UK time on Thursday morning that the spacecraft begins a 13-minute deorbit burn to slow its speed enough for it to start its descent through the atmosphere for a landing off the Californian coast.
