Posted: Sat, Feb 10, 2001, 8:26 PM ET (0126 GMT)
The American lab module Destiny was successfully attached to the International Space Station during a seven and a half hour spacewalk Saturday. The shuttle's robot arm, operated by astronaut Marsha Ivins, moved the module of out Atlantis' cargo bay and into position on the Unity docking node opposite the Zarya module shortly after 2 pm EST (1900 GMT). The two spacewalking astronauts, Bob Curbeam and Tom Jones, then completed heater, coolant, and electrical connections between Destiny and Unity. Before the spacewalk started at 10:50 am EST (1550 GMT), the shuttle's robot arm was used to remove a shuttle docking port on the portion of the Unity module to which Destiny would be attached; the port was stowed on the Z1 truss where it will remain temporarily before being attached to the far end of Destiny during an EVA Monday. The only problem of note reported during the EVA was when ammonia leaked from one set of coolant lines, forcing Curbeam to brush his suit of ammonia crystals and stand in the sun to boil off any remaining ammonia before reentering the shuttle. Shuttle and station crews will work this evening and Sunday to activate key systems in the lab module.

Related Links:

•  Spaceflight Now mission coverage
•  NASA Human Spaceflight shuttle mission information
•  Destiny module information