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Endeavour approaches the international space station prior to docking Friday (NASA TV image).
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Endeavour docks with space station
Updated: Sunday, 19 Jul 2009, 6:08 AM EDT
Published : Friday, 17 Jul 2009, 5:41 AM EDT
CAPE CANAVERAL - Space shuttle Endeavour has arrived at the international space station.
Endeavour docked at the space station Friday afternoon for a week-and-a-half-long stay.
The linkup created the biggest crowd ever in orbit at the same place: 13 astronauts. The two crews will greet one another, face to face, as soon as the hatches between the craft are opened.
Before docking, commander Mark Polansky guided Endeavour through a backflip so the station astronauts could photograph the entire shuttle, primarily its belly. The station crew used zoom lenses to capture any evidence of serious damage from Wednesday's launch.
A considerable amount of foam insulation peeled away from Endeavour's fuel tank at liftoff and some shuttle thermal tiles were dinged.
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