X

Photos: Space station meets Discovery

The target of the space shuttle Discovery is the International Space Station to install components and deliver supplies.
By Bill Detwiler, Contributor
14829.jpg
1 of 8 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Meeting Discovery

This is the view from Space Shuttle Discovery as it enters the docking station on the International Space Station.

14830.jpg
2 of 8 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

International Space Station

The International Space Station has been in orbit since its construction began in 1998. Discovery astronauts will perform spacewalks to install a platform and instruments on the space station. The station is 240 feet by 146 feet and 90 feet tall.

14831.jpg
3 of 8 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Missing pieces

One unscheduled but critical task to perform at the space station will be to inspect Discovery for damage or missing tiles from the launch.
The crew took photos to the external fuel cell after it was jettisoned and discovered a missing piece of foam (insert). NASA has put future shuttle flights on hold due to this problem.
14832.jpg
4 of 8 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

The crew

International Space Station Expedition 11 Commander Sergei Krikalev and Flight Engineer John Phillips prepare for Discovery's arrival. They have been manning the space station since April 16, 2005.

14833.jpg
5 of 8 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Experimenting

Flight Engineer John L. Phillips works in the lab while conducting an experiment on his own body. He's wearing a pair of cycling tights outfitted with sensors that measure joints, muscle activity and foot force. Scientists hope to solve the mystery of bone and muscle loss during space flight and also better understand osteoporosis on Earth.

14834.jpg
6 of 8 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Supply vehicle

The Progress 18 resupply craft was launched from Russia to deliver two tons of supplies, food, water, fuel and equipment to the Expedition 11 crew members aboard the station.

14835.jpg
7 of 8 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Burning the trash

To prepare for a new supply vehicle, crew members packed Progress 17 with its load of trash and unneeded equipment and sent it to be deorbited and burned up in Earth's atmosphere.

14836.jpg
8 of 8 Bill Detwiler/ZDNET

Hurricane Emily

Expedition 11 NASA Science Officer John Phillips captured this photo of the eye of Hurricane Emily on July 17, 2005, as the storm churned in the Caribbean Sea east of the Yucatan Peninsula. The space station serves as an orbiting observatory.

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes
Holiday lights in Central Park background

Related Galleries

Holiday wallpaper for your phone: Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year's, and winter scenes

21 Photos
Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting
Wooden lodge in pine forest with heavy snow reflection on Lake O'hara at Yoho national park

Related Galleries

Winter backgrounds for your next virtual meeting

21 Photos
Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes
3D Rendering Christmas interior

Related Galleries

Holiday backgrounds for Zoom: Christmas cheer, New Year's Eve, Hanukkah and winter scenes

21 Photos
Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza
img-8825

Related Galleries

Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kia EV6: Electric vehicle extravaganza

26 Photos
A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex
img-9792-2

Related Galleries

A weekend with Google's Chrome OS Flex

22 Photos
Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup
shutterstock-1024665187.jpg

Related Galleries

Cybersecurity flaws, customer experiences, smartphone losses, and more: ZDNet's research roundup

8 Photos
Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'
Full of promises!

Related Galleries

Inside a fake $20 '16TB external M.2 SSD'

8 Photos