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STS-123 Begins First Full Day In Space
Houston TX (SPX) Mar 12, 2008 Circling the globe aboard space shuttle Endeavour, the STS-123 crew members have begun their first full day in space. The astronauts are spending today inspecting the orbiter's heat shield and preparing for their arrival at the International Space Station Wednesday. Crew members will use the shuttle's robotic arm and Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) to check out the underside of Endeavour and the leading edges of its wings. The purpose of this inspection is to ensure that, during the vehicle's climb to orbit, no damage occurred to the tiles that protect Endeavour from the heat of reentry. Endeavour's crew members will extend the Orbiter Docking System Ring and check out rendezvous tools in preparation for their arrival at the station. The STS-123 astronauts also are slated to check out spacesuits they will use during the mission's five scheduled spacewalks at the station. Three of these will include tasks devoted to assembly of Dextre, the Canadian Space Agency's newest contribution to the station and the final element of its Mobile Servicing System, and installation of related equipment. The spacewalkers also will work to unberth from Endeavour's payload bay the Japanese Logistics Module - Pressurized Section, the first element of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory. Other spacewalk activities include the installation of spare parts, tools and a materials experiment, as well as the replacement of a circuit-breaker box and demonstration of a repair procedure for tiles of the shuttle's heat shield. The astronauts also will stow the OBSS onto the station's main truss during the fifth spacewalk. Community Email This Article Comment On This Article Related Links Shuttle at NASA Watch NASA TV via Space.TV Space Shuttle News at Space-Travel.Com
Shuttle Endeavour Lifts Off In Smooth Midnight Launch
Cape Canaveral FL (SPX) Mar 11, 2008US Space Shuttle Endeavour blasted into space at 0628 GMT Tuesday, carrying Japan's first space lab to the International Space Station. |
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