spacetoday.net: Atlantis docks with ISS

Posted: Sun, Jul 10, 2011, 8:45 PM ET (0045 GMT)
STS-135: docking at ISS (NASA)

The space shuttle Atlantis docked with the International Space Station on Sunday morning, marking the final time that a shuttle will visit the ISS. Atlantis docked with Harmony module of the ISS at 11:07 am EDT (1507 GMT) after a normal approach, and hatches separating the shuttle and station opened an hour and 40 minutes later. The docking came two days after Discovery's launch and a day after the shuttle crew performed an inspection of the shuttle's thermal protection system, finding no evidence of damage incurred during ascent. Later Sunday mission controllers said they were watching a piece of orbital debris from a 1970s-era Soviet launch that could pass close to the shuttle and ISS around midday Tuesday, but have not made a decision if a maneuver will be required to avoid it. Atlantis, flying the final mission of the shuttle program, will be docked to the station for eight days, transferring equipment and supplies to the ISS.