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| Japan space lab anchored to ISS | |
| (1 day later) | |
| A team of astronauts have attached a $1bn (£500m) Japanese laboratory to the International Space Station (ISS). | |
| The 16-tonne Kibo lab was delivered by the shuttle Discovery. It will be the station's biggest room, for the study of biomedicine and material sciences. | |
| Astronauts Akihiko Hoshide and Karen Nyberg manoeuvred Kibo into place, using the space station's robotic arm. | |
| The lab was anchored after two crew members had made preparations during a spacewalk lasting more than six hours. | |
| Discovery docked at the ISS on Monday after a two-day voyage. | |
| As well as the Japanese laboratory, the shuttle has also brought a pump to unblock the station's toilet, which broke nearly two weeks ago. | |
| The crew have been performing manual flushes several times a day. | The crew have been performing manual flushes several times a day. |
| Commander Mark Kelly flipped Discovery through 360 degrees before taking the ship into the station's docking port at about 1800 GMT. | Commander Mark Kelly flipped Discovery through 360 degrees before taking the ship into the station's docking port at about 1800 GMT. |
| Advertisement | Advertisement |
| Discovery docks at space station and delivers new occupants | Discovery docks at space station and delivers new occupants |
| The procedure allowed photos to be taken to check whether the orbiter is in good condition for the return trip - an action deemed necessary since the damaged shuttle Columbia broke up on re-entry in 2003. | The procedure allowed photos to be taken to check whether the orbiter is in good condition for the return trip - an action deemed necessary since the damaged shuttle Columbia broke up on re-entry in 2003. |
| Re-entry for Discovery is scheduled for 14 June. | Re-entry for Discovery is scheduled for 14 June. |
| Pad damage | Pad damage |
| The Kibo Japanese Pressurised Module (JPM) is the size of a school bus and joins the US Destiny lab and the European Columbus lab already attached to the platform. | |
| The mission has also delivered Canadian-born astronaut Greg Chamitoff, who will replace flight engineer Garrett Reisman as a station resident for the next six months. | |
| Discovery also carried a special guest - the space ranger Buzz Lightyear. | Discovery also carried a special guest - the space ranger Buzz Lightyear. |
| The 30cm-tall (12in) action figure, made famous in the Disney/Pixar Toy Story movies, went into orbit as part of an educational programme. | The 30cm-tall (12in) action figure, made famous in the Disney/Pixar Toy Story movies, went into orbit as part of an educational programme. |
| Nine further shuttle flights are required to complete the ISS before the orbiter fleet is retired in 2010. | Nine further shuttle flights are required to complete the ISS before the orbiter fleet is retired in 2010. |
| Meanwhile, Nasa is investigating the greater than usual damage caused to Discovery's launch pad during lift-off on Saturday from the Kennedy Space Center. | Meanwhile, Nasa is investigating the greater than usual damage caused to Discovery's launch pad during lift-off on Saturday from the Kennedy Space Center. |
| A large section of the flame pit broke away, sending heat-resistant bricks flying as far as 1,800ft (550m). | A large section of the flame pit broke away, sending heat-resistant bricks flying as far as 1,800ft (550m). |