Discovery Docks at Space Station
Space shuttle Discovery docked with the International Space Station at 8:54 p.m. EDT. After hatch opening and a routine safety briefing, the two crews will start their joint operations. For the second time in history, thirteen people will work together on one spacecraft for eight days.
Commander Rick Sturckow and Pilot Kevin Ford performed a few final corrective jet firings to refine the orbiter’s path to the station to poise them for a rendezvous pitch maneuver (RPM) under the station. While Sturckow performed the “backflip”, Expedition 20 Commander Gennady Padalka and Flight Engineer Mike Barratt took photos from the station. Their photos will be reviewed by experts on the ground for evidence of damage to the shuttle tiles.
And Astronaut Jose Hernandez
continues to find time in his busy schedule to keep up with his historic Tweets
