The space shuttle Atlantis docked at the International Space Station on Sunday, delivering spare parts and a Russian module that will help keep the station operational after the two last shuttle visits later this year. The 100-tonne spaceship docked under the command of Ken Ham as the shuttle and station moved around earth at 17,500 mph, Reuters reports. Atlantis is carrying a Russian module that combines a research lab and docking port for Russian and European capsules; its transportation costs were covered by the U.S. as part of a barter agreement among 16 countries over the $100 billion project. The shuttle also brought an equipment rack with new batteries for the station’s solar power system, and a work platform for the station’s Canadarm, the Canadian-build robot arm, as well as a spare communications antenna. Atlantis is due back at the Kennedy Space Center on May 26.
General
Atlantis arrives at the Space Station
Space shuttle delivers spare parts to station
FILED UNDER: space