International Space Station: pottering about at 17,500 mph

Clutter adorns almost every surface and is held in place by duct tape, Velcro and metal clips

Astronauts swap their spacesuits for T-shirts and socks for another day of tightly choreographed work in the Unity node aboard the International Space Station.

The latest mission, the last for the space shuttle Discovery, will see the crew bolt on extra storage space in the form of the Permanent Multipurpose Module, and install critical parts on the outside of the orbiting outpost.

Inside the storage facility is Robonaut 2, a humanoid robot that the astronauts are testing for future space missions.

There is no up or down in space, so clutter adorns almost every surface and is held in place by duct tape, Velcro and metal clips.

On the left of the picture Nasa's Catherine Coleman checks video equipment as crewmate Alvin Drew grapples with equipment to be used for a spacewalk the next day. Behind him is a wall of mission badges that cover the surface like fridge magnets. A red book floats overhead.

In the background the European Space Agency's Paolo Nespoli is handling a drink at the entrance to the Zarya module, with mission notes clipped to his trousers. Above his head are yellow signs that give a speed limit of 17,500mph (28,000kph), the speed at which the space station circles the Earth.

Contributor

Ian Sample

The GuardianTramp

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