Shuttle docks with space station (Endeavour and STS-127 mission to finish the Kibo module)

BBC News ^ | 7/17/09 | BBC

[NormsRevenge]

The shuttle Endeavour has successfully docked with the International Space Station (ISS).

Before docking, the shuttle performed a backflip, allowing the ISS team to photograph Endeavour's heat shield to see if it has suffered launch damage.

When the two crews join together shortly there will be a record 13 astronauts on the orbiting outpost.

During their 11-day visit, the shuttle team will finish work on a Japanese research laboratory called Kibo.

Endeavour was finally launched successfully from the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on Wednesday after five failed attempts.

[Bernard Marx]

When the two crews join together shortly there will be a record 13 astronauts on the orbiting outpost.

How many bathrooms does the Space Station have? There's no option to "go" outdoors behind a bush in an emergency. What a "morning" crush!

[NormsRevenge]

4-bedroom equivalent, ?

should have 2 and a half baths , at least. ;-)

—

The $100bn space station, now about the size of a four-bedroom house, has been under construction for more than a decade.

This is the 127th space shuttle flight, the 29th to the station, the 23rd for Endeavour and the third in 2009.

Seven further flights to the platform remain before the shuttles retire in 2010.

[NormsRevenge]

The space shuttle Endeavour passes beneath the Japanese Kibo module of the International Space Station as it approaches the orbital outpost for docking in this image from NASA TV July 17, 2009. REUTERS/NASA TV

[djf]

I watched the ISS flyover last night, but didn’t see the shuttle. Wonder if it might increase the brightness?

[NormsRevenge]

ya never know, if it’s at just the right angle when it flies over.. I think I may have seen it once .. I gave up trying.. this is a tough viewing area.

[djf]

There is one pass tonight in my neck of the woods, At 10:33, max elevation 47 degrees.

But the mother of all flyovers is tomorrow night at 10:55
Max elevation of 86 degrees, which for all intents and purposes means it is flying directly overhead!

[NormsRevenge]

Good luck! The time I think I saw it , it was almost overhead here in the bay area.

you have to be on your toes to pick it up tho. it's boogeying.

In this image taken from NASA video, the International Space Station is seen after docking with the space shuttle Endeavour. The US space shuttle Endeavour successfully docked at the International Space Station on Friday amid questions about the integrity of the shuttle's heat shield. (AFP/NASA VIDEO)

[djf]

http://www.spaceweather.com/flybys/

Just plug in your zip code.