Space shuttle crew complete International Space Station assembly
28 May 2011
A US space shuttle crew crossed a number of milestones on 27 May including completing the final assembly of the $100 billion International Space Station, NASA reports. The mission also completed the final spacewalk on the space shuttle's final mission into space.
The seven-hour, 24-minute spacewalk was undertaken by astronauts Mike Fincke and Greg Chamitoff.
According to NASA, the spacewalk accomplished the primary objectives set for it, including stowing a 50-foot-long boom and adding a power and data grapple fixture to make it the Enhanced International Space Station Boom Assembly. The assembly now extends the reach of the space station's robotic arm.
This act also completes the final assembly of the $100 billion International Space Station.
"Space station assembly is complete," shuttle commander Mark Kelly said.
The spacewalk was the 159th such in a series which began with the robotic attachment of the US Unity node with the Russian Zarya base block in1998.
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