spacetoday.net: Shuttle attaches cargo module, transfers station crew

Posted: Sat, Dec 8, 2001, 8:07 PM ET (0107 GMT)
STS-108: Raffaello attached to station

The crew of the space shuttle Endeavour attached a cargo module to the International Space Station on Saturday as the old and new station crews traded places. The Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module was docked to the Earth-facing docking port on the Unity module by the STS-108 crew, using the shuttle's robot arm, shortly before 1 pm EST (1800 GMT). Raffaello will remain attached to the station while the shuttle is docked so that shuttle and station crews can transfer equipment and supplies from the module to the station and pack the module with equipment and garbage for return to Earth. Also during the day the Expedition Three station crew moved into the shuttle to make room for the Expedition Four crew, who are now staying on the station. While an official change-of-command ceremony is scheduled for Tuesday, the switch effectively took place Saturday when the custom-fitted seat liners were swapped in the Soyuz module docked to the station. While the shuttle is scheduled to undock from the station on Friday, the 14th, NASA is considering extending the mission by a day to give astronauts time to repair an exercise treadmill on the station.