Atlantis Crew Fixes Broken Shuttle Compartment Latch

Space shuttle crew members completed a maintenance job aboard Atlantis, fixing a broken latch and accessing a compartment that contains lithium hydroxide canisters. The canisters, used to remove carbon dioxide from the shuttle’s cabin atmosphere, are not needed while Atlantis is docked to the International Space Station. The station’s systems are removing carbon dioxide from the entire docked complex. Once Atlantis undocks from the station early Tuesday morning, however, the crew will need the canisters to scrub carbon dioxide from the shuttle’s air.