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Shuttle Discovery arrives at space station
(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-03-18 10:24
The 115-foot solar wings are folded on a framework, or truss, that also holds a radiator. Altogether, the $300 million segment is the last major American-made space station piece needed. Discovery also is dropping off badly needed equipment for the space station's new water-recycling system - a spare urine processor and iodine flush to kill bacteria. NASA would like to have the system working before the crew at the orbiting outpost jumps from three to six at the end of May. The system is designed to convert astronauts' urine and condensation into drinking water. It arrived in November. The first order of business Tuesday evening - and a highlight for everyone - was the crew swap. Wakata - the first Japanese to live on the space station - was trading places with Magnus, who has been on board since the last shuttle visit in November. Wakata will spend at least three months there. "This is a great accomplishment for Japan," said Kuniaki Shiraki, an executive director at the Japanese Space Agency. Discovery will spend eight days at the space station, and its crew will perform three spacewalks. That's two days and one spacewalk less than originally planned. Discovery needs to be gone by the middle of next week so a Russian spacecraft can bring two fresh station crew members. That launch is set for March 26. |
