Live: Endeavour Closing Gap To ISS

The picture at left shows sunlight glinting off Endeavour and the moon, as seen from the International Space Station, as the shuttle flew within eight miles of the outpost.

Docking more than 200 miles above Earth is planned at 5:04 p.m.

Endeavour's crew just began a final thruster burn, called the Terminal Initiation burn and using the shuttle's left Orbital Maneuvering System engine, to prepare for the meeting.

The station is in proper position for the docking.

"Yury and Greg have worked really hard to make things ready for you," station Expedition 18 commander Mike Fincke told Endeavour commander Chris Ferguson, referring to fellow station residents Greg Chamitoff and Yury Lonchakov.

"Hopefully you enjoy your time here, and International Space Station is indeed ready for an extreme home makeover. So get here when you do, and we'll be sure to open the door," Fincke said.

"Great news, Mike," Ferguson replied. "We'll see you shortly."

You can watch live here as the shuttle closes in on the station at a rate of about 5 mph. Just click on the NASA TV image on the right side of this page to launch a viewer. And click on the image above to enlarge it.

Also watch live just before 4 p.m. as mission commander Chris Ferguson executes a nine-minute shuttle back flip 600 feet below the station, called the Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver.

The move will allow station residents Mike Fincke and Greg Chamitoff, show at left, to photograph the underside of the shuttle using two digital cameras, so the images can be analyzed for signs of any heat shield damage that could affect Endeavour's ability to land safely.

Mission controllers report that radar signals that had not been transmitting properly from an antenna are performing well, likely negating the need to use a back-up star tracking system.

Managers said the issue would have created more work for ground crews, but not affected Endeavour's ability to dock with the station.

IMAGE NOTE: Above, Endeavour as seen from the International Space Station about eight miles away. Below, Expedition 18 commander Mike Fincke, wearing a red shirt, and flight engineer Greg Chamitoff prepare for Endeavour's arrival just after 5 p.m.