Astronauts to Open New Room

HOUSTON — Wearing goggles and surgical masks, the commander of the international space station and an Italian astronaut on Saturday opened the hatch to christen the complex's brand new room.

The compartment will serve as a docking port for European and Japanese laboratories that will be delivered on the next three shuttle flights.

The grand opening came about a half hour ahead of schedule. Commander Peggy Whitson and astronaut Paolo Nespoli delayed their lunch so the event could happen before the station's orbit temporarily blocked the ability to send a video downlink to Mission Control.

After struggling a bit to unlatch the door, the pair slipped inside the new addition. Nespoli floated around the room while Whitson collected air samples. They wore the protective gear in case any debris was shaken loose inside the module during launch or installation.

"It's a pleasure to be here in this very beautiful piece of hardware," said Nespoli, who joined Discovery's crew to personally deliver the Italian-made pressurized chamber.

The other eight crew members aboard the orbiting complex set aside their work to watch the hatch opening, snapping photographs throughout the process.