At 6:52 a.m. EDT, following leak checks, Expedition 23 Commander Oleg Kotov and Flight Engineer Alexander Skvortsov opened the hatch of the Mini Research Module-1, named Rassvet. They will insert an air filter, install duct work for airflow, remove the docking mechanism, and leave the hatch slightly ajar.
The 11,000-pound module was attached to its permanent location on the International Space Station Tuesday. It is connected to the Earth-facing port of the Zarya module, where it will increase the capabilities of the Russian segment of the space station by providing workstations for payloads and the conduct of experiments. Rassvet also provides a new docking port for Russian spacecraft.
Actual entry into the module and transfer of the 3,086 pounds of NASA cargo it holds will occur after space shuttle Atlantis departs. Rassvet also carries important hardware on its exterior, including a radiator, airlock and a European robotic arm.
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