Space Shuttle Endeavour Successfully Docks With ISS

By John Wolper
08:22, November 17th 2008
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Space Shuttle Endeavour Successfully Docks With ISS

STS-126 has arrived at the International Space Station. Shuttle Commander Chris Ferguson was at the controls of space shuttle Endeavour docking to the station's Harmony Node at 5:01 p.m. EST.

The hatches between the International Space Station and space shuttle Endeavour were opened and Expedition 18 welcomed the STS-126 crew members inside the Harmony Node at 7:16 p.m. EST on Sunday.

Sandra Magnus swapped Soyuz seatliners with station astronaut Greg Chamitoff at 9:50 p.m. replacing him as Expedition 18 Flight Engineer. Chamitoff is now an STS-126 mission specialist and will return home on Endeavour in two weeks.

"Welcome Endeavour," said ISS commander Michael Fincke. "We understand that this house is in need of an extreme makeover and you're the crew to do it."

Endeavour commander Chris Ferguson said his crew was looking forward to celebrating the ISS's 10th anniversary on November 20.

In a greeting ceremony between the two crews, he said he hopes Endeavour's delivery will "make this place look a little nicer."

The primary goal of the STS-126/ULF2 mission is to provide additional capability for the International Space Station to house astronauts and to increase the station crew size from three to the desired six-crew members by spring 2009. Leonardo, a large cargo container inside Endeavour’s payload bay, will bring supplies and equipment to the International Space Station to help prepare the outpost for a six member crew.

The supplies include replacement Trundle Bearing Assemblies (TBAs) for the station’s ailing Starboard Solar Alpha Rotary Joint (SARJ). In all, more than 1,000 items will be delivered in the MultiPurpose Logistics Module (MPLM). Leonardo is one of three differently named large, reusable pressurized MPLMs used to ferry cargo back and forth to the station. Including STS-126, the MPLMs have flown eight times since 2001. Leonardo was the first MPLM to deliver supplies to the station and STS-126 is its fifth flight.

The shuttle and station crews will prepare Monday for the first STS-126 spacewalk by Mission Specialists Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Stephen Bowen. The spacewalk is set to take place Tuesday.



Image Credit: NASA
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