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International Cast Crowds Space Station

By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 27, 2009 9:30 AM CDT

(Newser) – The International Space Station is more international than it's ever been before. With a full 13 astronauts aboard—six regular crew members and seven from the visiting Endeavor shuttle—the station has its biggest human payload ever, including representatives from all five of the top station partners. “It’s really fascinating to be here,” said one astronaut. “You hear different languages. You hear different music. It’s like going around the world in a spacecraft that’s already going around.”

The Endeavour is on the homestretch of its maintenance run, set to return on Friday. The shuttle delivered a new crew member, some spare parts, and a new experiment porch from Japan. The visitors have also smoothly repaired a few problems, including a broken toilet early in the mission and a broken carbon dioxide scrubber on Saturday.

Astronauts Mark Polansky  and Doug Hurley, with Canadian Julie Payette and Japan's Koichi Wakata, assemble in the Kibo Experiment Module of the space station, July 23, 2009.
Astronauts Mark Polansky and Doug Hurley, with Canadian Julie Payette and Japan's Koichi Wakata, assemble in the Kibo Experiment Module of the space station, July 23, 2009.   (AP Photo/NASA)
In this photo from NASA TV astronaut Chris Cassidy works on battery replacement outside the international space station Wednesday, July 22, 2009.
In this photo from NASA TV astronaut Chris Cassidy works on battery replacement outside the international space station Wednesday, July 22, 2009.   (AP Photo/NASA TV)
Astronauts Tom Marshburn (left) and Christopher Cassidy share duties on the fourth spacewalk of Endeavour's current mission, July 24, 2009.
Astronauts Tom Marshburn (left) and Christopher Cassidy share duties on the fourth spacewalk of Endeavour's current mission, July 24, 2009.   (AP Photo/NASA)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
kokuaguy
Jul 27, 2009 11:24 AM CDT
; ^)

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