Shuttle Atlantis Reaches the ISS

Astronaut Piers J. Sellers, STS-112 mission specialist, is pictured on the middeck of the Space Shuttle Atlantis.

The successful launch of space shuttle Atlantis on Monday Oct. 7 brought the crew of the STS-112 mission safely to the International Space Station (ISS).

Mission Specialists David Wolf and former Goddard employee Piers Sellers began STS-112's first space walk at 9:21 a.m. EDT on Thursday. Wolf and Sellers connected power and data cables between the station and the S1 truss segment, installed a camera and antenna assembly and released a number of launch restraints which was done over a 7-hour, 1-minute duration. The S1 truss was attached earlier Thursday morning with the use of the station's robotic arm, which was operated by Expedition Five crew-member Peggy Whitson and Atlantis' Sandy Magnus.

Today's activities include the transferring of equipment and supplies from the shuttle to the ISS and Sellers and Wolf preparing for Saturday's spacewalk. In addition, some members of the STS-112 crew will have media interviews to discuss the mission.

For the latest status of the STS 112 mission, go to: http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/