Posted: Sun, Sep 16, 2001, 11:40 PM ET (0340 GMT)
A new Russian docking and airlock module successfully docked with the International Space Station Sunday evening. The Piers (Russian for "pier") module docked at the nadir port of the Zvezda service module at 9:05 pm EDT Sunday (0105 GMT Sunday), two days after launch on a Soyuz rocket from Baikonur. Video of the docking was to be broadcast live on NASA TV but a last-minute transmission glitch prevented it from happening; otherwise, the approach and docking went smoothly. Piers will provide an additional docking port for Soyuz and Progress spacecraft as well as an airlock for staging EVAs from the Russian segment of the station. Three EVAs are planned for October by the Expedition Three crew to electrically mate the module to the station and attach additional equipment to its exterior. The Progress M-CO1 spacecraft that delivered Piers to ISS also carried additional cargo, including scientific equipment and maintenance supplies.

Related Links:

•  Spaceflight Now mission status center
•  SPACE.com article
•  AP article