We feel we have accomplished a lot. We feel our mission has been successful

Commander Frank Culbertson

They instructed the shuttle pilots to steer the station into a higher orbit, creating a gap of more than 60 kilometres (40 miles) with the debris.

The evasive action was a success but the extra fuel needed meant the shuttle had to shorten a fly-around of the station for a photographic survey.

The shuttle is bringing home American astronaut Frank Culbertson and his Russian crewmates Mikhail Tyurin and Vladimir Dezhurov who moved into the space station in August.

Before leaving, Commander Culbertson gave candy canes and a small fabric Christmas tree to the new space station team.

Fourth team begins

"It has been a great ride, a great trip, and now it is time to say goodbye," he said.

"We feel like we have accomplished a lot. We feel our mission has been successful.

"However, the most important thing to remember is the journey continues," he added.

The International Space Station has moved into a higher orbit

The retired Navy captain saluted his successor, Russian Yuri Onufrienko, and then floated into the shuttle for the ride home.

Fellow Navy officer Daniel Bursch, part of the new team, rang the ship's bell and called out in naval fashion: "Expedition Three, departing."

Together with astronaut Carl Walz, they will be the fourth team to live on the space station, returning to Earth in May.

Endeavour, which undocked 400 kilometres (250 miles) above Australia, is due to land on Monday but bad weather over Cape Canaveral may keep it in orbit a day longer.

The orbiter had spent eight days at the space station, delivering supplies and bringing back waste items and old equipment.