Discovery Arrives at International Space Station
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Using space shuttle Discovery’s reaction control system jets, Commander Rick Sturckow, steered the shuttle to a soft docking with the International Space Station at 8:54 p.m. EDT. The crews will open hatches between the two spacecraft at 10:59 p.m. and conduct the traditional Welcoming Ceremony.
About 30 minutes later, Discovery mission specialist Nicole Stott and station Flight Engineer Tim Kopra will exchange Soyuz seat liners and titles, as Stott becomes a station Flight Engineer and Kopra a shuttle mission specialist.
NASA Television will air a Mission Status news briefing at midnight to recap today’s rendezvous and docking activities.
