Thirkettle said it was disappointing that a European was not part of Monday's spacewalking team but noted, "It was extremely important for us that Columbus was attached properly today."
Eighth Room
The European Space Agency waited years to see Columbus fly. The lab was supposed to go up in 1992 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of the sailing of Christopher Columbus, but problems with the space station and then the shuttle delayed everything.
The addition of Columbus expanded the almost ten-year-old space station to eight rooms. It was attached directly to the Harmony compartment that arrived last fall.
Another of Harmony's docking ports will be occupied by Japan's new lab once it launches in the spring.
Additional work on the lab's exterior will be performed during a second spacewalk on Wednesday and a third on Friday. Unless flight surgeons object, Schlegel is expected to make Wednesday's spacewalk, along with Walheim.
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