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Shuttle prepares to dock with ISS Nasa space shuttle docks with ISS
(about 3 hours later)
Space shuttle Endeavour is closing in on the International Space Station and is scheduled to dock with the orbital outpost at 1853 BST (1353 EDT). Space shuttle Endeavour has docked with the International Space Station, after performing a backflip so that its underside could be photographed.
About an hour before it manoeuvres into place, the spacecraft will perform a backflip to allow digital images of its heatshield to be captured. The slow-motion somersault meant digital images of the shuttle's heatshield could be captured.
Nasa engineers need to check whether foam insulation that broke off during Wednesday's launch damaged the ship.Nasa engineers need to check whether foam insulation that broke off during Wednesday's launch damaged the ship.
Nine pieces of foam are thought to have broken away from the fuel tank. Nine pieces of foam are thought to have broken away - three of which appear to have struck the shuttle.
Three of these appeared to have struck the shuttle, said John Shannon, chairman of the mission management team. John Shannon, chairman of the mission management team, said none of the pieces was believed to have been big enough to cause serious damage.
But, he added, none were believed to have been big enough to cause serious damage.
Careful inspectionsCareful inspections
On Thursday, Endeavour's crew conducted an inspection of the shuttle, using a robot arm and extension boom, tipped with a laser and camera, to hunt for any damage to the wings and nose cap.On Thursday, Endeavour's crew conducted an inspection of the shuttle, using a robot arm and extension boom, tipped with a laser and camera, to hunt for any damage to the wings and nose cap.
Foam damage has been a major concern for Nasa since the Columbia disaster in 2003 when a briefcase-sized chunk of foam insulation broke of during launch and pierced the shuttle's heat-protection tiles. This caused the shuttle to disintegrate on re-entry into the atmosphere, killing all seven crew. Foam damage has been a major concern for Nasa since the Columbia disaster in 2003 when a briefcase-sized chunk of foam insulation broke off during launch and pierced the shuttle's heat-protection tiles. This caused the shuttle to disintegrate on re-entry into the atmosphere, killing all seven crew.
Endeavour blasted off on Wednesday Shuttle launchEndeavour blasted off on Wednesday Shuttle launch
As Endeavour prepares to dock with the ISS on Friday, the crew will guide it into a blackflip manoeuvre once it is about 200m (600ft) away from the station. This will allow the shuttle's underside to be photographed to check the heatshield for any damage. As Endeavour prepared to dock with the ISS on Friday, the crew guided it into a backflip manoeuvre once it was about 200m (600ft) away from the station, so it could be photographed and checked for damage.
After, the shuttle will re-approach the space station to make its final connection. Afterwards, the shuttle re-approached the space station and made its final connection at about 1900 BST (1400 EDT).
The mission is scheduled to last for 11 or possibly up to 14 days thanks to a new piece of equipment that can tap into the power grid of the ISS to extend its mission.The mission is scheduled to last for 11 or possibly up to 14 days thanks to a new piece of equipment that can tap into the power grid of the ISS to extend its mission.
'Teacher in Space' 'Teacher in space'
On board is former primary school teacher Barbara Morgan, once the reserve behind Christa McAuliffe, who died along with six other astronauts in the 1986 Challenger shuttle tragedy.On board is former primary school teacher Barbara Morgan, once the reserve behind Christa McAuliffe, who died along with six other astronauts in the 1986 Challenger shuttle tragedy.
After the incident, Nasa asked Ms Morgan to stay on as its Teacher in Space representative and pledged a shuttle flight to fulfil McAuliffe's educational agenda.After the incident, Nasa asked Ms Morgan to stay on as its Teacher in Space representative and pledged a shuttle flight to fulfil McAuliffe's educational agenda.
But when the agency subsequently banned civilians from flying in its spacecraft Ms Morgan had to become a fully trained astronaut to get her chance to enter space. On Thursday Ms Morgan said: "Hey, it's great being up here.But when the agency subsequently banned civilians from flying in its spacecraft Ms Morgan had to become a fully trained astronaut to get her chance to enter space. On Thursday Ms Morgan said: "Hey, it's great being up here.
Barbara Morgan said she was enjoying the mission so farBarbara Morgan said she was enjoying the mission so far
"We've been working really hard, but it's a really good, fun kind of work.""We've been working really hard, but it's a really good, fun kind of work."
Ms Morgan and crew will be delivering a 1.58 tonne "truss" section to extend the space station to a length of 108m (354ft).Ms Morgan and crew will be delivering a 1.58 tonne "truss" section to extend the space station to a length of 108m (354ft).
The astronauts will also replace a defective gyroscope, one of four keeping the ISS on an even keel, and will install a 3.3-tonne exterior stowage platform.The astronauts will also replace a defective gyroscope, one of four keeping the ISS on an even keel, and will install a 3.3-tonne exterior stowage platform.
Endeavour is also carrying in its cargo bay a pressurised container with 2.7 tonnes of supplies, foodstuffs and equipment.Endeavour is also carrying in its cargo bay a pressurised container with 2.7 tonnes of supplies, foodstuffs and equipment.
Three spacewalks, lasting about six hours and 30 minutes each, will allow the two-astronaut teams to accomplish the assembly and repair tasks.Three spacewalks, lasting about six hours and 30 minutes each, will allow the two-astronaut teams to accomplish the assembly and repair tasks.
Should Nasa chooses to extend the mission, astronauts could fit in a fourth spacewalk, to prepare for installation of a boom that will allow crews to inspect for damage to the heat shields of future shuttles while docked with the space station. Should Nasa choose to extend the mission, astronauts could fit in a fourth spacewalk, to prepare for installation of a boom that will allow crews to inspect for damage to the heat shields of future shuttles while docked with the space station.
The mission is the second of four that Nasa plans this year to finish the $100bn (£49.1bn) space station before the shuttle fleet retires in 2010.The mission is the second of four that Nasa plans this year to finish the $100bn (£49.1bn) space station before the shuttle fleet retires in 2010.