KENNEDY SPACE CENTER -- The astronauts aboard space shuttle Endeavour started their first full day in orbit Saturday morning, less than a day after a spectacular nighttime launch. See previous story.
The shuttle crew awoke to the song "Shelter" by Xavier Rudd, dedicated to Commander Chris Ferguson by his brother. Listen to the Wakeup Call.
Endeavour's astronauts unfurled a 100-foot, laser-tipped pole, and surveyed their ship for any launch damage Saturday as it closed in on the International Space Station.
At least two pieces of debris were spotted in Friday night's launch photos. Engineers are poring over the images to determine whether the debris or anything else hit Endeavour.
The spacecraft and its crew of seven are on track to reach the ISS Sunday afternoon.
The shuttle is delivering tons of equipment for remodeling, including a new bathroom, kitchenette, two sleeping compartments, and an unprecedented recycling system for turning urine into drinking water.
The Launch That Almost Wasn't
Friday night's launch almost did not happen, because the door to the white room was not completely secured, flopping around outside the orbiter.
After a few anxious moments, managers decided it would not pose a hazard to the astronauts.
"The countdown, itself, really was very, very clean," said Mike Leinbach, shuttle launch director at the Kennedy Space Center. "The weather came in for us, and the only issue we really worked, of course, was the white room door issue at the very end, and we did a really good on-net discussion about that, convinced ourselves that we were safe to fly, and that it wouldn't cause any potential damage to the orbiter."
Leinbach said the problem with the door has never happened before.
Send Us Your Night Launch Pictures
If you have been to a nighttime shuttle launch, we would love to see your pictures and use them on CFNews13.com and News 13. Send your photos to special@cfnews13.com.
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