This small tear in an orbital maneuvering system pod insulation blanket is considered minor and is smaller than the tear during STS-117 this summer.
Click for video.
Despite a slightly damaged orbital maneuvering system pod and a failed computer, Atlantis' flight is going fine, said lede shuttle flight director Mike Sarafin.
Engineers believe the computer will restart, and they don't think the torn blanket on the OMS pod, which has happened before, presents a danger to the crew.
"It's probably not that big of an issue, but we off looking at it," said Sarafin.
He added that the damage is smaller than the tear seen on STS-117 during the summer. Astronauts have tools to repair the tear if necessary.
The failed computer was one of three and was turned off when it did not work properly just before docking.
"We suspect that it is a healthy computer," said Sarafin. "We just took the precaution not to contaminate the other computers."
The crews of Atlantis and the International Space Station cheered as they met after the hatch between the spacecraft opened about 11:40 p.m. EST.
This afternoon astronauts have a variety of tasks, including moving spacesuits to the Quest airlock for Sunday's spacewalk and moving the orbital boom sensor system out of the shuttle payload bay, so the Columbus module can be moved on Sunday.
The 27,000-pound Columbus module will be moved from the shuttle payload bay and attached to the starboard side of the Harmony mondule.
Click for STS-122 fact sheet.
Click for NASA-TV schedule, which gives a mission timeline.
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