Astronauts prepare for lab mission
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Seven astronauts charged with delivering a European science laboratory into orbit arrived at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida to prepare for Thursday’s launch of the space shuttle Atlantis.
If it takes off on time in the early morning, Atlantis will reach the International Space Station on Saturday so the crew can begin hooking up the new Columbus laboratory.
Installation of Europe’s Columbus module will be followed early next year with launches of Japan’s multi-part Kibo laboratory complex.
Including Atlantis’ mission, NASA has 10 shuttle flights remaining to complete construction of the $100-billion orbital outpost, a project of 16 member nations.
The U.S. space agency also plans to fly two resupply missions to the station and service the Hubble telescope before retiring the shuttle fleet in 2010.
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