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Shuttle to Dock With Station

First, the station's camera will inspect Endeavour for damage

By Sam Gale Rosen, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 10, 2007 8:18 AM CDT

(Newser) – The crew of the Endeavour spent most of yesterday checking their vessel for damage from insulation that broke off the fuel tank during the launch; today they will dock the shuttle with the International Space Station. First, the shuttle will flip around in front of the ISS so that the station's cameras can inspect further for damage. Then Endeavour will deliver a two-ton truss to be added to the station.

Nine pieces of insulation broke off Endeavor's fuel tank during Wednesday night's launch, the AP reports; three appeared to strike the shuttle, but none seemed big enough to inflict serious damage. NASA hopes to keep the shuttle in orbit for two full weeks, with teacher-astronaut Barbara Morgan on board.

[Images (5)]

[Videos (2)]

NASA Managers monitor the crew as they board the Space Shuttle Endeavour from the Launch Control Center Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2007, at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. (AP Photo/NASA, Bill... (Associated Press)

In this image from NASA TV, mission specialist Barbara Morgan is shown on the shuttle Endeavour, Thursday, Aug. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/NASA TV) (Associated Press)

This picture provided by NASA shows the forward two thirds of the space shuttle's external tank photographed by a camera positioned in Endeavour's umbilical well seconds after separation from the space... (Associated Press)

In this image from NASA TV mission specialist Barbara Morgan, left, and Endeavour Commander Scott Kelly speak to mission control, Thursday evening, Aug. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/NASA TV) (Associated Press)

Space Shuttle Endeavour lifts off from pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Wednesday Aug. 8, 2007. Endeavour and a crew of seven, including teacher-astronaut Barbara Morgan, are headed to the International... (Associated Press)

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Space shuttle Endeavour launch (RodrigoLaPaz (YouTube))

A simulated construction NASA International Space Station (tvspace (YouTube))

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Shuttle to Dock With Station