May 27 May 28 May 29 May 30 May 31 June 1

December 10 December 11 December 12 December 13 December 14 December 15

On May 27 the space shuttle Endeavor lifted of on a mission to outfit the new ISS. The launch had been delayed by a week because of hail damage to the external fuel tank. NASA was affraid that ice could form in the holes created by the hail and break of during launch and damage the orbiter.

On December 5, one day after the launch, the crew checked out equipment going to be used throughout the mission and got ready for the arrival of Zarya (FGB). The outer docking ring on the shuttle docking system was extended, ready to receive PMA-1 on Unity. Astronaut Nancy Currie later in the day lifted Unity (Node-1) out of the cargobay using the shuttle robot arm and positioned it over the shuttle docking module before slowly lowering it onto the docking ring where it was latched. The outer docking ring was than retracted and a tight seal was formed. They were now awaiting Zarya.

Image showing the docking system in the front, ready to grasp Unity and Unity stored in the cargo bay behind the docking system.	Image of the robot arm (RMS) starting to lift the Unity module out of the cargo bay.	Image of PMA2 on Unity successfully mated onto the docking system in the cargo bay.