WASHINGTON, Nov. 16 (Xinhua) -- After a
nearly-two-day pursuit, the U.S. space shuttle Endeavour arrived at the
International Space Station and docked with it at 5:01 p.m. EDT (2201 GMT) on
Sunday, according to NASA TV.
The International Space Station's robot
arm and an external antenna are seen in the foreground as the Space
Shuttle Endeavour closes in on the orbital outpost for docking in this
image from NASA TV November 16, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
The space linkup occurred under the shroud of
darkness as both spacecraft passed over the Earth's night side. Commander
Christopher Ferguson was at the controls of space shuttle Endeavour docking to
the station's Harmony Node.
The station and shuttle crews will open the hatches
between their vehicles and greet each other in about two hours.
The first priority for the 10 astronauts, once
united, was a crew member swap. Sandra Magnus, who arrived aboard Endeavour,
will switch seatliners with station astronaut Greg Chamitoff and replace him as
Expedition 18 Flight Engineer.
Then they will begin joint operations of "home
improvements" inside and outside of the station. Endeavour was delivering
thousands of kilograms of new equipment: a second toilet, a kitchenette, an
exercise device, two more sleeping quarters, and anew recycling system for
converting urine and other waste water into drinking water.
The Space Shuttle Endeavour is seen
docked to the International Space Station with the Earth in the background
in this image from NASA TV November 16, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters
Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
With these all installed, NASA and its partners will
double the size of the space station crew, which is currently three. Their goal
is to have six-person crew by spring 2009.
During Endeavour's stay up there, astronauts will
also carry out four spacewalks outside of the orbital outpost, servicing the
station's two Solar Alpha Rotary Joints, which allow its solar arrays to track
the sun. The starboard SARJ has had limited use since September 2007.
Endeavour, with seven astronauts aboard, was launched
into space Friday night. If all goes well, it is scheduled to undock from there
on Nov. 27, towards a planned Nov. 29 landing at the Kennedy Space Center in
Florida.
Space Shuttle Endeavour Commander Chris
Ferguson (C) greets International Space Station Commander Mike Fincke (R)
as ISS flight engineer Yury Lonchakov looks on after the opening of the
hatches between the two spacecraft in this view from NASA TV November 16,
2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo) Photo Gallery>>>
