ISS has a new compartment

On October 26, two space shuttle astronauts Discovery completed the first space walk and installed a new compartment into the International Space Station (ISS).

Two astronauts Scott Parazynski and Doug Wheelock took 6 hours to bring the new, Harmony module weighing 14 tons, from the Discovery ship's cargo compartment to a robotic arm and fitting it into a temporary position on the ISS.

According to the plan, the astronauts will make 5 walks in space to complete Harmony installation. Harmony will provide the ISS crew with an additional 18% of the room area for living and research. It will also create a corridor for three science laboratories: the US Destiny laboratory (already available), the Columbus module of the European Space Agency and Japan's Kibo laboratory (both will be installed). at the end of this year and early next year).

Harmony was built by Thales Alenia Space of Italy, 7m long, 4.6m wide and weighs about 14 tons. Harmony installation led by Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli.

ISS station looks from Discovery ship (photo taken October 25) (Photo: Reuters)

The " historic " meeting on ISS between the first two female astronauts commanded space shuttle flights: Pamela Melroy, Discovery ship commander and Peggy Whitson (right), who has been on ISS since October 10, 2007.

Astronaut Douglas Wheelock outside ISS during an October 26 spacewalk (Photo: NASA / Reuters)

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