(NASA) – The STS-126 crew members completed the day’s scheduled inspections of space shuttle Endeavour’s heat shield at 8:54 p.m. EST Saturday. They used Endeavour’s robotic arm and an attached boom extension to check the spacecraft’s underside, nose cap and leading edges of the wings as well as hard to reach shuttle surfaces.
The inspections are performed to check if any damage occurred to the heat shield during the climb to orbit that began when Endeavour lifted off Friday from Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Over the next few days, engineers and flight controllers will analyze the data collected by the STS-126 crew.
Image above: STS-126 Pilot Eric Boe is in the pilot’s seat on the shuttle’s flight deck. Photo credit: NASA TV
Throughout the day, the crew prepared for Sunday’s arrival at the International Space Station. The day’s activities included the extension of the shuttle’s docking ring and the check out of tools they will use to rendezvous and link up with the station. Docking is scheduled to occur at 5:04 p.m. Sunday.
The crew also checked out spacesuits to be used during the mission’s four scheduled spacewalks at the space station.
04:46 am
04:38 am
Gabitasoft Interactive. All Rights Reserved.