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It returned to Earth with 3,642 pounds (1,652 kg) of equipment and station refuse. The cargo canister was modified pre-flight to allow it to carry a record-weight of 14,400 pounds (6531 kg) of supplies. The recycling system's two refrigerator-size racks were among 16 transferred to the station inside the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module, which launched and landed inside Endeavour's payload bay. "The regenerative is a very, very important system for us, not just for space station but for our future programs as well," said Cain. Samples of the processed water were packed aboard Endeavour for post-flight analysis before the crew in space can start using the system for consumption. Working with ISS Expedition 18 commander Michael Fincke, STS-126 mission specialist Don Pettit spent several days troubleshooting the recovery system, before arriving with mission control at a configuration that would allow the urine processing facility to run without prematurely shutting itself down. Of particular importance was the delivery and installation of two equipment racks designed to recycle the station crewmembers' urine and perspiration into drinkable water. "It certainly fits that category where we are concerned." "We did somewhat of an extreme makeover," said NASA's mission management team chair Leroy Cain. spacewalk and the longest joint operations between two spacecraft joined by open hatches, brought to the station two new sleep stations, a new galley with a refrigerator, a water recovery system and an advanced resistive exercise device. The mission, which set several records including the 200th U.S. Gregory Chamitoff returned in her place after working for six months aboard the outpost. ISS flight engineer Sandra Magnus launched with the crew on Nov. We're really proud of everyone."įerguson's "great crew" included pilot Eric Boe and mission specialists Don Pettit, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Stephen Bowen and Shane Kimbrough. "What a great crew and what a great team we have. "The crew of Expedition 18 would like to extend a congratulations to the crew of Endeavour and the entire team that made that incredible home makeover mission possible," radioed station commander Michael Fincke after watching the landing from on-board the ISS. While docked at the station, they performed four spacewalks to clean and service the rotary joints that permit the outpost's twin solar array wings to track the sun and they delivered the station a new resident flight engineer while providing her replacement a ride home.
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Ferguson led his crew of six to a safe return after they worked together to expand the ISS from a three-bedroom, one-bathroom house to a five-bedroom, two-bathroom home.