Shuttle docks safely at space station

Updated 13.32 Mon Nov 17 2008
Keywords: kennedy, nasa, space station, dock, home improvement, astronauts, crew, extreme makeover, endeavour, shuttle, space

Space shuttle Endeavour has safely docked at the International Space Station after its two-day journey from Earth.

Its crew are on an outer-space home improvement mission to add amenities like a new toilet and kitchen to the ten-year-old station.

The shuttle is also carrying a device that recycles urine into drinking water and is considered essential to support a crew of six once Nasa phases out space shuttle flights - expected in 2010

Shuttle commander Chris Ferguson nudged the shuttle into a docking berth on the station's Harmony module as the spacecraft soared 212 miles above India.

"We understand that this house is in need of an extreme makeover and that you are the crew to do it," station commander Mike Fincke said.

The astronauts will turn the station into a five-bedroom, two-bath orbital house with dual kitchens, allowing it to accommodate six astronauts - double its current complement.

The shuttle is also carrying a device that recycles urine into drinking water and is considered essential to support a crew of six once Nasa phases out space shuttle flights - expected in 2010.

Only nine more flights to the space station are planned as Nasa shifts toward developing a new craft that will be capable of ferrying astronauts to the moon as well as to the station.

The shuttle's 11-day stay at the station is expected to be extended a day to allow extra time to gather samples from the new water regeneration system.

The Endeavour crew is also planning to go on four challenging spacewalks to work on the station's power system.

A huge rotary joint needed to pivot solar panels to face the sun was shut down last year after Nasa discovered it was contaminated with metal filings.

Astronauts plan to clean and lubricate the joint and install new bearings. They will also do preventive maintenance on another rotary joint to avoid future problems.

Astronaut Sandra Magnus will be swapping places with station flight engineer Greg Chamitoff, who has been on the space station since June. She is scheduled to be replaced in February.

Nasa and Russia have been building the station for ten years. It is scheduled to be finished in 2010, at a cost of more than $100 billion (£67bn). Europe, Canada and Japan are also taking part in the project.

© Independent Television News Limited 2008. All rights reserved.