Cape Canaveral: Astronauts are taking in "absolutely spectacular" views of Earth as they crank open shutters inside the International Space Station's new $27 million observation deck.
Astronauts began opening the window shutters of the domed lookout early Wednesday. The central round window is the largest ever flown in space. It was exposed first, and station commander Jeffrey Williams said the view is "absolutely spectacular."
The astronauts closed the shutter a few minutes later to test the mechanisms, and opened another as the shuttle-station complex sailed over the South Pacific.
The highly anticipated unveiling occurred during the third and final spacewalk of Endeavour's mission.
The observation deck is part of a new room at the space station named Tranquility.
Bureau Report
First Published: Wednesday, February 17, 2010, 13:35