The space shuttle Atlantis managed a picture-perfect docking sequence to the International Space Station (ISS) yesterday, as the two massive spacecraft were flying some 220 miles (354 kilometers) above the surface of the planet. The STS-129 flight will spend about 11 days in orbit, during which time the six astronauts forming its crew will handle two impressive cargo containers, which hold an impressive amount of spare parts for the orbiting facility. When Atlantis will return home, it will carry a seventh crew member, in the person of NASA astronaut Nicole Stott. She has been living in space for the past three months.

The docking procedure took place, as scheduled, at 11:51 am EST (1651 GMT). After the corridor linking the ISS to Atlantis was finally sealed and pressurized, the hatch between the two vehicles was opened at approximately 1:29 pm EST (1829 GMT). The STS-129 assembly flight to the ISS has set a umber of records. First off, it's the fifth shuttle launch for 2009, something that has not been achieved since 2002, before the Columbia accident. Secondly, it marks the last time an ISS astronaut will return home to the United States aboard a similar spacecraft.

From now on, this task will be alloted to the Russian-built Soyuz space capsules, which will remain the only spacecraft in the world with the capability to ferry astronauts to the low-Earth orbit after the shuttle's retirement. If NASA implements its long-term plans, then the next time an American spaceship will bring one of its own space explorers home will be in 2015 at the earliest. This, of course, depends on whether the Constellation Project receives its vote of confidence, and further delays are not made while constructing the ARES I rocket and the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle.

About an hour before the two craft met up, Atlantis commander Charlie Hobaugh made the shuttle fly a rendezvous pitch maneuver. During this stage of the flight, the shuttle exposes its underbelly to ISS-based cameras, so that more pictures of its heat shield are taken and analyzed. “We're crashing the party,” Hobaugh then radioed to the ISS crew. “We're looking forward to seeing you guys,” station flight engineer Jeff Williams, also a NASA astronaut, replied.

During Atlantis' stay, three spaceflights will see the huge amount of spare parts that were delivered being outfitted on their designated supports, on the outside of the ISS hull. These instruments and devices have been delivered to the station so that, after the shuttles are retired, the crew manning the outpost could have a fighting chance if anything is to break down, Space reports.