International Space Station last Tuesday filming the "Endeavor" space shuttle wonderful photographs, one of the photographs shows the "Endeavor" in the Earth's colorful silhouette on the horizon projection. At that time, Endeavor gradually close to the international space station in preparation for docking.
When the space shuttle move closer to the international space station, the "Endeavor," astronaut Stephen Robinson, feeling shocked. He said: "looked up to see the human in space, completed a great project, simply can not be believed. Seems to be sci-fi films in general." "Now here we are and live together in the International Space Station astronauts. This is really Space Shuttle Program magical legacy. "
The United States, "Endeavor" was the space shuttle on the 8th morning local time from Kennedy Space Center in Florida, was launched. It is the main task of this trip is to transport the space station "quiet" was the node module, as well as food and air cleaning equipment. A number of space station life support, environmental control systems, and provide additional room space station astronauts will be placed in the "quiet" was in, who is also the United States to provide for the space station last command module. "Endeavor" was the International Space Station also bring an observatory. The observatory built by the Italian will be able to provide 360-degree view of the Earth. The astronauts, after excluding a series of failures, this 360-degree observatory was moved this morning to their final deployment location.
The Observatory is an observation deck windows seven, the largest diameter of 31 inches of glass, which is ever installed on the largest space vehicle windows, while windows was around six ladder shape. According to NASA's request, in order to protect the quartz windows from being shattered orbital debris, they should be at most of the time off. The thickness of the glass up to 1.5 inches on all sides there is a fixed window frame. The official opening of the International Space Station astronauts can observatory outside of the windows watching the scenery. In the observatory, the astronauts can order a 360-degree perspective on the International Space Station, directly see the robotic arm on the outside jobs. But now, when they use robotic arm to move or installation of large objects, only with television cameras.
In the second spacewalk, the astronauts Nicholas Patrick and Robert Beenken the use of large arm the observatory from the "quiet" was the end of the node module to another side. "Endeavor" was the space shuttle on the 10th will be observatories and "quiet" was delivered to the international space station node module, due to "Endeavor" was payload bay of space constraints, the Observatory was temporarily fixed in "quiet" was the end. "Quiet" was previously installed, the astronauts work done by the Observatory is to move to "quiet" was the other side of the fixed, so that the face of the Earth observatory. The new installation of the observatory from the European manufacturers at a cost of 27 million U.S. dollars, it is 1.5 meters, diameter of 3 meters, there are seven windows, easy access to astronauts on Earth and other celestial bodies and spacecraft observations panoramic view.
The "Endeavor" was the mission director Kewatexi arriba brujo said: "This is the best viewing platforms in space, and we eagerly await the first observation after the windows open."
Observatories and Serenity node module is manufactured by the European contribution to the International Space Station, but this is transported to the International Space Station, the last major component. By this fall, NASA space shuttles retire, NASA's International Space Station construction task also come to an end.
Kewatexi Ariba brujo said that as the Space Shuttle program will soon withdraw from the stage of history, Endeavor's six astronauts are very cherish their time on-orbit flight. Endeavor task force this week, five will return to Earth, when the task of building the International Space Station will be completed 90%. He said: "This task force is treasure the space flight opportunities, they seize the time to enjoy the scenery and enjoy the time in the international space station."
