Astronauts continue work on space station

HOUSTON, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Astronauts completed the installation of new docking ports for new research laboratories at the International Space Station, NASA officials in Houston said.

The Harmony module provides an additional pressurized volume for the ISS and serves as the hub for new European and Japanese research laboratories, a NASA statement said.

Scott Parazynksi and Douglas Wheelock of the space shuttle Discovery spent more than six hours in space installing the new module. It was Wheelock’s first space walk.

"Great day in outer space," Parazynski said of the mission.

Space.com reports additional missions include work on the solar power cells for the ISS. The ISS was fitted with solar wings in June, but power surges and vibrations prompted an examination.

NASA’s lead ISS flight director, Derek Hassmann, said that no further examination of Discovery’s heat shields is expected.