SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR ARRIVES AT SPACE STATION

(AP) --  Space shuttle Endeavour has arrived at the international space station.
Endeavour docked at the space station Friday afternoon for a week-and-a-half-long stay. The linkup created the biggest crowd ever in orbit at the same place: 13 astronauts. The two crews will greet one another, face to face, as soon as the hatches between the craft are opened. 

Before docking, commander Mark Polansky guided Endeavour through a backflip so the station astronauts could photograph the entire shuttle, primarily its belly. The station crew used zoom lenses to capture any evidence of serious damage from Wednesday's launch. 

A considerable amount of foam insulation peeled away from Endeavour's fuel tank at liftoff and some shuttle thermal tiles were dinged. 

©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  This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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/news167027979.html