Astronauts to finish tasks with new station lab

By: Associated Press | Alabama's13.com
Published: June 09, 2008

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HOUSTON (AP) - A few final tasks related to the international space station's newest lab await space shuttle Discovery astronauts today.

The one billion dollar-lab's robotic arm is going to be fully extended by astronauts. The 33-foot robotic arm was first moved on Saturday, but only very slightly.

At the end of the test, the arm will be folded up and stored, out of the way of the lab's windows.

Over the summer, the station's crew will continue checking out the arm.

The robotic arm won't be used for any actual work until after the launch into orbit next year of the lab's third and final section and a second, smaller robotic arm.

Later today, astronauts plan to open the lab's storage shed, which has been sealed up since it was moved last week from a different location on the station to the lab.