THE international space station has had a population boom.
A Russian Soyuz capsule carrying three new space station residents docked at the orbiting complex yesterday. With three astronauts there to greet them, the space station now has a full staff of six for the first time in its ten-year history.
Each
of the major space station partners is represented on board for the first time. The combined crew, all men, now comprises two Russians and one American, Japanese, Canadian and Belgian.
"It is a historic day. It's also a very happy day up here," said newly arrived Canadian Bob Thirsk. "We've got an incredible potential for success here. This is going to be something incredible. You ain't seen nothing yet."
Having all these countries represented on board is "a great way to kick off a six-person crew," Nasa's deputy space station programme manager, Kirk Shireman, said.
When shuttle Endeavour and its crew of seven arrives in another few weeks, a record 13 people will be at the space station, but that will be only temporary.
The Soyuz spacecraft blasted off from Kazakhstan on Wednesday and pulled in at the space station as the two vessels soared 217 miles above the coast of China.
