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Astronauts set up Japan’s science lab

— Photo: AFP

Discovery with the Kibo module in the cargo bay.

CAPE CANAVERAL (FLORIDA): Astronauts fixed the toilet at the International Space Station (ISS) on Wednesday and opened up a grand new science lab.

The toilet problem had fast become the most pressing issue of the mission, so much so that a spare pump was rushed from Moscow to Cape Canaveral last week for a last-minute ride aboard space shuttle Discovery. Russian Oleg Kononenko put in the new pump, and the toilet started working normally again.

For two weeks, the three men living aboard the space station had to manually flush the Russian-built toilet with extra water several times a day. The doors to the billion-dollar Japanese lab — named Kibo, or hope — were swung open on Wednesday, a day after its installation at the space station. “This is a great moment for the Japanese folks,” said Akihiko Hoshide before floating into the brightly lit chamber with a welcome sign. Flight director Annette Hasbrook described Kibo as “stunning.” — AP

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