Shuttle Atlantis crew prepares to leave station

CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (Reuters) - The shuttle Atlantisastronauts moved spacesuits onto the International SpaceStation and packed up old equipment to bring home on Sunday,while scientists prepared for the first experiments in Europe'snew Columbus laboratory.

The shuttle, which arrived at the station eight days ago todeliver Europe's first permanent space laboratory, wasscheduled to depart on Monday. Hatches between the two shipswere due to be sealed Sunday afternoon.

French astronaut Leopold Eyharts, who travelled aboardAtlantis, will remain on the station to oversee Columbus'operations. He previously spent three weeks on the Russian Mirspace station.

Eyharts replaces NASA astronaut Dan Tani, whose plannedtwo-month stay on the station doubled when Atlantis' launch wasdelayed by fuel sensor problems.

"I can't wait to get back and see everybody," Tani radioedto Mission Control in Houston on Sunday.

Eyharts will return home with the next shuttle crew,scheduled to launch March 11.

Endeavour will deliver the first part of a huge laboratorycomplex built by Japan, called Kibo. NASA plans to move theshuttle to the launch pad on Monday.

Atlantis' stay at the station was extended by two days,first by an astronaut's illness and later to have more time forsetting up Columbus. Now, NASA is under pressure to get thecrew home.

The military plans to shoot down a failed spy satellitethat it says poses a threat to public safety because of itsload of toxic rocket fuel. By destroying the satellite beforeits tumbles on its own into the atmosphere, the military hopesto time its break-up so that debris falls into the ocean withno threat to populated areas.

To avoid debris impacts to Atlantis as it re-enters theatmosphere, the military will postpone the operation until theshuttle lands. NASA is preparing both its prime landing site inFlorida and backup runways in California on Wednesday to clearthe skies for the satellite shot.

NASA and the military say the space station, which orbitsmore than 200 miles (322 km) above Earth, is not in any dangerfrom satellite debris.