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Summary
Astronauts from the US space shuttle Endeavour prepared for their first space-walk of the mission today aimed at completing a Japanese space laboratory at the International Space Station. During their first full day in space, the Endeavour crew inspected the space-suits that they will use during the five space-walks planned during the mission.The seven-person crew, including six Americans and one Canadian also tested rendezvous equipment, installed a camera for the orbiter docking system and extended the docking ring that sits on top the system.The Endeavour mission aims to help fulfil 'Japan's hope for an out-of-this-world space laboratory, as the shuttle delivers state-of-the-art equipment to conduct experiments in the vacuum of space, according to Nasa.Yesterday the shuttle successfully docked at the space station amid questions about the integrity of the shuttle's heat shield.During the delicate docking maneuver the two space vehicles approached each other at 28,000 kilometres per hour, giving Commander Mark Polansky a margin of error of 4.5 centimetres (1.8 inches) to complete the procedure, Nasa said.The entry of Endeavour's crew aboard the ISS brought the number of astronauts inside the orbiting space station to a record 13.Meanwhile, President Barack Obama will host the Apollo 11 crew on Monday, the 40th anniversary of man's first landing on the moon.
