Space shuttle Endeavour took off for orbit from Florida last week and after a successful launch and trip to the International Space Station, the shuttle finally docked the station. The shuttle’s main mission was to deliver equipment to the space station in order to provide accommodation that would serve a larger crew of people living in outer space.

Astronauts also performed spacewalking missions, in order to rotate a solar wing that was not facing the right way. A spacewalk mission lasts 6 hours and a half and during this time astronauts had to clean and lubricate the wing for maximum performance.

Astronauts have also installed a water recycling system that can transform urine, sweat and moist into drinkable water. The project was just tested and it seems that it performs fine. NASA is planning to use the water recycling system for longer space flights, journeys in which water may become an issue.

After some unsuccessful attempts, astronauts managed in the end to make the system work and will return to Earth with samples from the recycled water in order to be analyzed to determine if the water is indeed drinkable. Astronauts have also brought to the International Space station equipment for improving the capacity of the station. The equipment will permit 6 people, instead of 3, to live simultaneously on the orbiting station.

Astronauts are now packing for their trip back which will take place on Friday. Space shuttle Endeavour will return to earth on Sunday and if all goes well scientists at NASA will have new information to work with regarding the experiments that are taking place up there, on our planet’s orbit.