Endeavour crew makes thermal inspection

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla., May 17 (UPI) -- Endeavour's crew made a routine scan of the spacecraft's thermal protection system ahead of its upcoming docking at the International Space Station, NASA said.

While the inspection using the Orbiter Boom Sensor System attached to the end of Endeavour's robotic arm was under way, mission specialists Mike Fincke and Drew Feustel prepared spacesuits that will be transferred to the ISS after docking Wednesday for use during the mission's four spacewalks, a NASA release said.

During the 16-day mission, Endeavour and its crew -- commander Mark Kelly, pilot Gregory H. Johnson and mission specialists Fincke, Greg Chamitoff, Feustel and European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori -- will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer experiment and other equipment including two S-band communications antennas, a high-pressure gas tank and additional spare parts for the station.

Also on board Endeavour are tiny satellites that will be mounted on the ISS to collect data about solar winds, NASA said.