Endeavour To Begin ISS Assembly
News story originally written on November 27, 1998

NASA plans to launch Space Shutttle Endeavour on December 3rd, 1998 to begin assembly of the International Space Station. Endeavour will carry the first connection node, called Unity. The shuttle crew will attach the node to the Russian-built control module. The control module was launched on November 20th.

The Unity module will connect six different parts of the station. Besides the control module, it will connect the U.S. laboratory module, Node 3, an exterior framework for the station, an airlock, and a multi-windowed cupola.

The shuttle crew consists of: Robert Cabana as Mission Commander; Fredrick Sturckow as pilot; Nancy Currie, Sergei Krikalev, Jerry Ross, and James Newman as Mission Specialists.

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