SPACE STATION ASTRONAUTS: BIG FAMILY IN FULL HOUSE

(AP) --  Life on board the international space station is busier and more crowded now that it's a full house.
For the first time ever, the space station is accommodating a permanent crew of six, the way it was intended when the first piece flew a decade ago. The population at the orbiting outpost doubled Friday when three new residents moved in. 

At a news conference Monday, one of the newcomers described the space station as a surreal world. Canadian astronaut Bob Thirsk says it's like being in the middle of a Salvador Dali painting. 

U.S. astronaut Michael Barratt says he comes from a family of seven back on Earth. So having a crew of six, versus three, is comfortable and seems normal to him. 

©2009 The Associated Press.  All rights reserved.  This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

___________________
The full version of this story is available online at http://www.physorg.com/news163077449.html