Unity
December 11, 1998
Houston Space Center
Six astronauts jubilantly swung open the doors
to the new International Space Station and flipped
on the lights Thursday, becoming the first guests
aboard the 250-mile-high outpost.
"It's fantastic. I can't say how much this means
to all of us," radioed down Robert Cabana, commander
of the attached shuttle Endeavour.
Mission Control replied: "You've opened the doors
to a whole new era in spaceflight."
Cabana and Russia's Sergei Krikalev were the first
to enter the space station. Cabana beckoned for the
cosmonaut to join him in crossing the threshold of the
U.S.-Russian complex. They floated in side by side.
In addition to flipping on the lights, the astronauts
installed air ducts and fans, and also planned to
bring aboard clothes and other supplies for the first
permanent crew, due to arrive in 2000.
For the five Americans and one Russian -- and hundreds
of flight controllers below -- it was a moment for
which they and their countries had been striving
for years.
The space station consists of only two rooms so far,
and is still more than five years from completion.
Its first permanent residents -- Krikalev and two
other men -- won't move in for another year or so.
But for the first time in nearly 25 years, NASA has
a space station of its own, with people on board.
"A very significant and almost momentous event,"
proclaimed flight director Bob Castle.
The astronauts excitedly unlocked the three hatches
leading from Endeavour's crew cabin into Unity,
the American-built chamber launched aboard the shuttle
one week ago. It was slow going; the astronauts had
to unbolt the tightly sealed hatches and wait for the
air pressure to equalize.
Unity was dark inside and so the astronauts
took along flashlights and lanterns. Upon entering,
they flipped on the three light switches.
"We remember when Unity was just an aluminum
shell," Cabana said, admiring the spotless white and
yellow walls. "It's just so nice inside. It's really
nice to be in a new home."
Then they set about opening the three remaining
hatches leading from Unity into Zarya,
the Russian-made control module, and squeezed into
that portion, too, with Cabana and Krikalev again
leading the way.
"Looks like home, what do you think?" Mission Control
asked Krikalev.
"It's small yet," he replied. "We need to have more
modules."
A third and final spacewalk to wrap up work outside the
station is scheduled for Saturday. The next component of
the space station is due to arrive late next summer from
Kazakhstan.
"We just can't wait to see the outcome of what we started,"
said Cabana. "I just see us in the embryonic stage of
this. It's just a beginning and it's only going to grow."
U.S. and Russian Astronauts to Train
History of Space Stations