New kitchen for space crew

17 November, 2008, 06:28

The NASA shuttle Endeavour has docked with the International Space Station, bringing new equipment to upgrade the facility. In a make-over with a difference, the shuttle brought a kitchenette, an extra bathroom, two sleeping compartments, and a water-recycling system.

Commander Christopher Ferguson guided the shuttle to a smooth docking. The linkup took place more than 210 miles above Central Asia.

Expedition 18 Commander Mike Fincke and Flight Engineers Yury Lonchakov and Greg Chamitoff welcomed a new set of visitors aboard the ISS.

Five men and two women are on board the shuttle and will spend two weeks at the station. Female astronaut Sandy Magnus will stay behind for a three-month stint, replacing Greg Chamitoff who'll go home on the shuttle after six months on the station.

Four spacewalks are planned, beginning Tuesday, primarily to clean and lubricate a solar wing-rotating joint that broke down more than a year ago.

The capacity of the ISS will double from three to six next June, once the new equipment and accommodation has been fitted.