Astronauts aboard NASA's shuttle Endeavour packed up their spaceship for the trip home Thursday after more than a week at the International Space Station, but not before holding a grand opening ceremony for the orbiting lab's newest room and stunning observation deck. Shuttle commander George Zamka and station skipper Jeffrey Williams, equipped with ceremonial red ribbon and scissors, officially opened the station's new Tranquility module and its seven-window observation deck. Read more
NASA is taking a close look at two new problems on space shuttle Endeavour. A round ceramic spacer near one of the ****pit windows is sticking out. And a thermal tile repair that was made before the flight has failed, and the original crack is back, right over the ****pit. Read more
As it joins up in orbit with the International Space Station, space shuttle Endeavour performs a Rendezvous Pitch Manoeuvre, a complete end-over-end flip, so Expedition 23 crew members aboard the ISS can photograph the orbiter for any signs of damage it may have incurred during liftoff.