New Crew Expected to Reach Space Station Today
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Space shuttle Endeavour chased after the international space station Sunday, bringing a relief crew for its three longtime inhabitants.
The astronaut who will take over as the space station’s next commander, Kenneth Bowersox, said it was hard to believe that he was finally on his way after five years of training.
“I can’t wait,†he said in an interview Sunday night. “I’ve seen two or three sunrises during the last couple days and I can’t believe how many more I’ve got ahead of me. But I think every day is going to be precious up here.â€
Bowersox and the six others aboard Endeavour are expected to arrive at the space station this afternoon.
American astronaut Peggy Whitson and Russian cosmonauts Valery Korzun and Sergei Treschev have been aboard the space station for almost six months. Their mission was supposed to last 4 1/2 months, but after they moved in, all of the space shuttles were grounded because of cracked plumbing. Then, Endeavour ran into other trouble that further delayed liftoff, until Saturday.
Bowersox said he took advantage of the last two weeks of delay to catch up on sleep, as did crewmate Donald Pettit.
Endeavour will spend a week at the space station and return to Earth, with Whitson and her two crewmates, on Dec. 4.
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