More Cool Space Stuff

The Daily Mail (UK) reported today on the recent International Space Station repairs. The thing I find interesting is that the AP, AFP, and Reuters have copyright designations on the photos. Did they have photographers up there with the astronauts, taking those pictures? I'm presuming the photos came from NASA or another organization in charge of the ISS.

Captured against the stunning backdrop of infinite space, an astronaut floats precariously 225 miles above Earth as he tinkers with a greasy gummed-up joint.

On the 10th anniversary of the International Space Station, the mission specialist's every weightless movement is caught on camera as he carries out all-important repair works during one of four spacewalks.


NASA has been closely following the crew with a video camera ever since the Endeavour space shuttle lit up the night sky over Florida with a mighty roar.

The seven astronauts were launched beyond Earth on a mission penned as 'Extreme Home Improvements'. They were scheduled to complete a 12-day service of the International Space Centre's degraded joints and install a new water recycling system, kitchen fridge and gym equipment.

Coverage has been so intimate that even astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper could not escape the prying lens when she dropped her tool bag into space.


Endeavour is due back at the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida on Sunday after 16 days in orbit.

NASA plans eight more flights to the station, a $100 billion project of 16 nations, before the shuttles are retired in 2010.

Nasa and Russia have been building the space station since 1998. Europe, Canada and Japan are also project participants.

There's more info in the article, and many more stunning photos.