Inside the shuttle, another crewmember used a robot arm to guide the school bus-sized module. The spacewalkers also connected a docking port to the end of Destiny, which shuttles will use in the future. With the new addition, the station became the roomiest spacecraft ever to fly, surpassing the Russian space station Mir. During last week's rendezvous, the two crews transferred 1.5 tons of equipment and supplies to Alpha from Atlantis, including water, food, spare parts, a spare carbon dioxide-removal unit, a spare computer, clothes and DVDs. The shuttle visit was the second for the Alpha crew, who welcomed shuttle Endeavour astronauts in early December.
U.S.-built Destiny is the most intricate piece of the space station.
Besides housing experiments, its 13 computers and other systems will enable NASA to assume control of Alpha from the Russians in a month or two. The Associated Press contributed to this report. An AOL Time Warner Company. All Rights Reserved. Terms under which this service is provided to you.