Robot Arm To Move Space Station Observation Deck

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – The International Space Station’s fancy new observation deck is going for a ride.

Astronauts on the shuttle-station complex will use a giant robot arm Sunday night to move the domed lookout from one side of the newly installed Tranquility room to the other.

On Saturday, bolts prevented the astronauts from attaching a thermal cover between Tranquility and the observation deck. Space station commander Jeffrey Williams removed the bolts and managed to secure the hatch cover over Tranquility’s docking mechanisms early Sunday. After hours of review, NASA concluded there should be no clearance problem when it comes time to install the observation deck in its final position.

The $27 million lookout has seven windows.