Shuttle Crew Works With Key Life Support System

The Endeavour astronauts are hauling supplies and equipment between their shuttle and the International Space Station today while working with a key outpost life support system.

With the shuttle and the station linked together 220 miles above Earth, the Endeavour crew also took time out of a light duty day to talk with reporters from television, radio stations and newspapers in the San Francisco area, Pittsburgh and Houston. Endeavour mission specialist Greg Chamitoff grew up in San Jose, Calif., and crewmate Mike Fincke is a native of Pittsburgh.

The shuttle astronauts spent a good part of their morning installing a new filter in the station's Oxygen Generation System. The filter will enable carbon dioxide to be scrubbed from the station's atmosphere.

Fincke and Feustel also are reviewing procedures for the third of four spacewalks planned during Endeavour's 12th and final visit to the station -- it's 25th and final mission before shuttle fleet retirement.

The excursion is scheduled to begin at 1:46 a.m. Wednesday.