Quote:
Teacher-turned-spaceflyer Barbara Morgan is adjusting to life in Earth orbit after her 22-year wait to reach space.
"It's great being up here," Morgan said late Thursday via a space-to-ground video link. "We've been working really hard, but it's a really good, fun kind of work."
Morgan, 55, launched into space Wednesday aboard the NASA's shuttle Endeavour with her six STS-118 crewmates en route to the International Space Station (ISS). The astronauts are delivering cargo, spare parts and a new starboard-side piece of the station's main truss.
Set for a 1:53 p.m. EDT (1753 GMT) arrival at the ISS today, Morgan and her crewmates spent much of Thursday scanning Endeavour's heat shield for signs of damage. The teacher-astronaut is also carrying 10 million cinnamon basil seeds aboard the shuttle for later distribution to schools on Earth and hopes to hold at least one, and up to three, video sessions with students during her flight.
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Good to see NASA doing all of the right things again! Knowing that the ISS must be finished, or as close to finished as possible before the shuttle is retired, NASA is once again doing its best up there.
It should be rather curious to see what happens if th current generation U.S. shuttle is retired and the ISS is still not complete. The Russians will surely get in a few jokes at our expensive.
As an avid fan of space, the next few years will be interesting.
Cheers!
Maikeru Hatamoto
Shuttle Endeavour Docks With Space Station
08-10-2007
