Image above: Space Shuttle Endeavour approaches the International Space Station for docking. Credit: NASA TV

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Space shuttle Endeavour docks with the ISS

Space Shuttle Endeavour docked with the International Space Station at 5:01 p.m. EST.

Expedition 18 Commander Mike Fincke, KE5AIT and Flight Engineers Yury Lonchakov, RA3DT and Greg Chamitoff, KD5PKZ will welcome the seven-member STS-126 crew aboard the station after the hatches between the vehicles swing open at about 6:41 p.m.

One of the first major tasks is the station crew rotation. STS-126 Mission Specialist Sandra Magnus, KE5FYE, will switch places with Chamitoff. Magnus is scheduled to stay on the station until she returns to Earth with STS-119 early next year.

The STS-126 crew members are scheduled to perform four spacewalks during their stay at the station. Endeavour also is delivering supplies and equipment to the station.

STS-126 is the 27th shuttle mission to visit the station.