AirSpaceMag.com

Station Builders
In this century, the shuttle’s main job has been constructing the space station, and every astronaut has contributed in one way or another. Left to right: Ken Cockrell commanded the 2001 Atlantis mission that delivered the U.S. Destiny lab. Spacewalker Bob Curbeam helped attach it to the station, and went back five years later to install one of the outpost’s large truss segments. “Suni” Williams has already served one six-month tour on board; she will return in 2012 (in a Russian Soyuz vehicle) as the station’s commander. Leroy Chiao lived on the station following the 2003 Columbia accident, when only two people were on board and resupply flights were so limited that food had to be rationed.

Robert Seale

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Photos from: "Shuttlenauts" »