Endeavor Docks Successfully At International Space Station
source: http://www.redorbit.com/news/space/1601501/endeavor_docks_successfully_at_international_spac...
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Space Shuttle Endeavour docked with the International Space Station on Sunday carrying a crew of seven astronauts with a mission to update the station’s living quarters.
The digital images will help NASA determine whether Endeavour sustained any damage during liftoff Friday night.
At least two signs of debris damage were spotted during the launch on Friday night, sparking fears that a narrow strip of thermal blanket may have been torn off.
The photographic inspections are standard for NASA since the Columbia disaster of 2003, when debris from the external tank struck the shuttle, damaging the heat shield and causing its destruction as it tried to re-enter the atmosphere. All seven crewmembers died.
Endeavor’s 15-day flight mission will include four spacewalks in order to repair joint damage on the ISS's solar arrays.
NASA crewmembers have dubbed the mission Extreme Home Improvements as the newly arrived crew is installing new quarters, with an additional bathroom and a galley.
Additional updates include two new sleeping compartments, more exercise gear and a second toilet as NASA plans to double the station's crew size as early as May.
Only 10 more shuttle flights are left before the fleet is retired in 2010.
The digital images will help NASA determine whether Endeavour sustained any damage during liftoff Friday night.
At least two signs of debris damage were spotted during the launch on Friday night, sparking fears that a narrow strip of thermal blanket may have been torn off.
The photographic inspections are standard for NASA since the Columbia disaster of 2003, when debris from the external tank struck the shuttle, damaging the heat shield and causing its destruction as it tried to re-enter the atmosphere. All seven crewmembers died.
Endeavor’s 15-day flight mission will include four spacewalks in order to repair joint damage on the ISS's solar arrays.
NASA crewmembers have dubbed the mission Extreme Home Improvements as the newly arrived crew is installing new quarters, with an additional bathroom and a galley.
Additional updates include two new sleeping compartments, more exercise gear and a second toilet as NASA plans to double the station's crew size as early as May.
Only 10 more shuttle flights are left before the fleet is retired in 2010.
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- arcticspirit likes space.
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arcticspirit
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I wish the time gap between this generation of shuttles and the next wasn't so great. I had heard that NASA wasn't as confident in these holding up for much longer.
- 3 years ago
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arcticspirit
