Update: Endeavour Docks!

Seven Endeavour astronauts have safely docked with the International Space Station, nearly two days after blasting off from Kennedy Space Center.

The shuttle's spring-loaded docking mechanism made contact at 5:01 p.m. with a pressurized hatch on the station's Harmony module, more than 200 miles above northern India.

The crew is proceeding with procedures to close final latches into place and "hard mate" the two spacecraft, which will allow them to open a hatch and enter the station for a welcome ceremony planned at 6:55 p.m.

"The team down here on planet Earth wanted to complement you on a well done, very nicely done rendezvous and docking," said flight communicator Steve Robinson. "It's great to see Endeavour docked with the International Space Station."

"On behalf of Heide and I, it's great to be back," said Endeavour commander Chris Ferguson, referring to spacewalker Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, with whom he flew on STS-115 in 2006.

"I don't think there's anybody more happy to be back than Don, though. And I know that Shane and Eric and Steve are just happy to be visiting for the first time. And I know Sandy’s happy to be in her new home," Ferguson continued.

"Roger that," said Robinson. "And there just might be some smiles on the other side of that hatch going on too."

Then station Expedition 18 commander Mike Fincke chimed in, speaking on behalf of crewmates Greg Chamitoff and Yury Lonchakov: "Yeah, in fact I don't know who's smiling more, Greg, myself or Yury. Can't wait to open the hatch and welcome you aboard. And very smooth, very beautiful docking, and you looked clean and dry on the (Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver)."

"Let me add that that was a spectacular, beautiful sight to see you guys come up underneath us," said Chamitoff