Tech & Biz

Space Shuttle Docks at International Space Station

by Jordan Yerman | March 17, 2009 at 02:15 pm

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The space shuttle Discovery has docked at the International Space Station. One of the tasks for the crew is to install some replacement parts for the water recycling system, which will clean and purify reclaimed urine, like in Dune. I know what it's like to have to deal with limited functionality at work, but try working at the International Space Station when the toilet's busted.

At 5:19:53: p.m. EDT, Space shuttle Discovery docked to the Pressurized Mating Adaptor on the front of the International Space Station's Harmony module. Docking occurred over Lake Wells, western Australia.

Discovery launched without event Sunday after myriad delays stemming first from concerns about gaseous hydrogen valves aboard the orbiter and then from an unrelated hydrogen leak at the launch pad. A further wrinkle arose yesterday when a wayward piece of space junk headed toward the ISS had NASA considering an avoidance maneuver for the station. But the space agency later determined that the object would sail safely past. (It did indeed pass without incident early this morning.)

During their stay at the ISS, the astronauts will install the fourth and last solar panel set, to better generate additional electric power and increase the number of permanent crew members in the complex.