NASA STS-126 Report #07 Monday, November 17, 2008 – 6 p.m. CST
Mission Control Center, Houston, Texas
HOUSTON The joint Space Shuttle Endeavour and International Space Station crews today took the first step toward updating the complexs interior by installing a packed logistics module on a docking port.
The Leonardo Multipurpose Logistics Module (MPLM) stuffed with additional sleeping stations, new exercise equipment, a water regeneration system, experiments and hardware was carefully moved from Endeavours payload bay to the station in preparation for unloading for the next several days.
Following Sundays arrival and orientation, the crews got down to business with swapping Sandra Magnus for Greg Chamitoff who spent 167 days on the station as an Expedition crewmember. Magnus replaces Chamitoff as a Flight Engineer until her return trip home arrives in February 2009.
While Magnus and Chamitoff conducted specific handover activities, the remaining crewmembers focused on moving Leonardo to its temporary location on the station where more than 14,000 pounds of hardware and supplies will be unloaded into the station making room for stowage to be returned to Earth. The hatch was opened to begin that transfer work at 5:43 p.m. Monday.
While the crew worked, imagery experts on the ground poured over images taken by the crew of Endeavours thermal protection system. Late Monday, the crew was informed that there was no need for additional inspection Wednesday allowing planners to fill that time with transfer and new equipment activation.
Late Monday night, Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve Bowen prepared for the first of four spacewalks planned during the mission. They are following a proven protocol known as the campout to spend the night in the Quest airlock to lessen the preparatory time before beginning the spacewalk scheduled for 12:45 p.m.
The crew is scheduled to go to bed at 11:55 p.m. Monday and be awakened at 7:55 a.m. Tuesday. The next shuttle status report will be issued at the end of the crew day, or earlier if events warrant.
