Posted: Wed, Oct 9, 2002, 2:38 PM ET (1838 GMT)
The space shuttle Atlantis successfully docked with the International Space Station on schedule Wednesday morning. The shuttle docked with the Destiny module of the station at 11:17 am EDT (1517 GMT) as the two spacecraft flew over western China. Hatches separating the two spacecraft were opened about 90 minutes later. The shuttle will remain docked to the station for a week to carry out its primary task, the installation of the S1 starboard truss segment. The first of three EVAs planned to complete this task is scheduled for Thursday, when astronauts David Wolf and Piers Sellers will make the initial connections between the S0 and S1 truss segments after the station’s Canadarm2 robot arm moves the new truss segment into position.

Related Links:

•  AP article
•  Reuters article
•  BBC article
•  Spaceflight Now mission status center
•  SPACE.com shuttle mission section