Astronauts Outfit New Multipurpose Module

The Endeavour astronauts are striding through a bonus day in orbit, setting up life support systems in the International Space Station's new U.S. Tranquility module, which sports the Italian-built observation deck known as the Cupola.

With the shuttle linked to the station some 220 miles above the planet, the astronauts are outfitting the Tranquility module with the station's water reclamation system, an air revitalization system, an oxygen-generation machine and other environmental control and life support systems.

The work was enabled when NASA mission managers earlier this week decided to extend Endeavour's stay at the station by one day -- extra time now being used to move systems racks into the Tranquility module from the U.S. Destiny lab.

The idea is to centralize all U.S. life support systems in the Tranquility module so the Destiny lab can be used solely as a laboratory. Tranquility also will house a second station treadmill and a resistive exercise device, essentially turning it into a multipurpose module that also includes another space station toilet.

"The arrival of this module means several things. Everybody is aware of this new grand view that we have of the world below us. But the Tranquility module also is going to serve as a gym, as a hygiene area, as a place can maintain themselves for a long duration," station commander Jeffrey Williams told President Barack Obama during a congratulatory call earlier today.

"And long duration, living and working in space, is what the space station is all about -- to do the research and the science necessary to take us beyond Earth orbit. That was the ultimate purpose of the space station, and the arrival of this module will enable us to do that. And it really marks the end of major assembly of at least the U.S. orbital segment as we transition into full utilization of this magnificent orbiting laboratory."

You can follow mission operations right here in The Flame Trench. Click the NASA TV box on the right side of the page to launch our NASA TV viewer and round-the-clock coverage of Endeavour's mission to the International Space Station. Refresh this page, too, for periodic updates.

Check out the timing for major mission milestones in this latest revision -- Rev K -- of the STS-130 NASA TV Schedule.

Check out the crew's detailed timeline in this Flight Day 11 Execute Package.

Launched Feb. 8, the Endeavour astronauts docked at the station two days later and now are scheduled to depart the outpost at 7:54 p.m. Friday. Landing at Kennedy Space Center is scheduled for 10:20 p.m. Sunday.