Astronauts made a critical step for boosting the population in orbit by attaching a giant shipping crate full of home improvement supplies to the International Space Station on Monday. This was the first major job for the crews of the linked space station and space shuttle Endeavour and it was the highlight of their first full day together. They must have all been very excited about this achievement.
There was more than 14,000 pounds of gear stuffed into a 21 foot container that flew up on Endeavour. It was hoisted onto the space station. It held a refrigerator, an extra toilet, kitchenette, exercise machine, sleeping compartments, and a new recycling system for converting urine into drinking water. Sounds gross to me, but I am sure it works. They seem to do almost anything these days.
NASA wants to double the number of space station residents from three to six next year. But they can't do it until all the equipment, most notably the water recycling system, has been installed and tested. There will be additional equipment launched in February. No matter how many times you see Endeavor go shooting off in space, it is exciting to watch. You never get tired of seeing it. It is so amazing.
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