Washington/Moscow - Astronauts on Friday installed the first component of Japan's long- awaited Kibo module - a laboratory for experiments that could produce new medicines for Earth, NASA officials said. During a seven-hour spacewalk US space shuttle Endeavour astronauts Rick Linnehan and Garrett Reisman prepared the component for installation on the International Space Station (ISS).
Endeavour commander Dom Gorie and Japanese astronaut Takao Doi then operated a robot arm to move the first component of the laboratory into place on the ISS around 4 am (0800 GMT).
Russian flight centre officials said there had been some occasional problems with the electricity supply during the spacewalk, but all the work was completed as planned, the Itar-Tass agency reported.
Another four spacewalks are planned during the shuttle's 16-day mission.
The first component of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory was transported by Endeavour, and the remaining two Kibo components are to be delivered later this year.
The shuttle and its seven crew members docked at the station early Thursday, where their resident three orbiting colleagues took photos of the spacecraft's heat shield to check for damage from the launch.
Kibo's delivery was delayed for years by the 2003 Columbia shuttle disaster and the ensuing years of revamping the ageing spacecraft for increased safety.
Over the past year and a half, shuttles have transported huge elements to the construction site that is the space station, including large solar collectors and truss structures.
The goal is to finish construction by 2010 with double-the-space for orbiting astronauts and an expanded capacity for experiments so NASA can retire the heavy-lifting, but ageing, 26-year-old shuttles.
Another goal of the current Endeavour mission is to install Canada's two-armed Dextre robot, which will help future maintenance of the space station's exterior. The robot will be able to load and unload objects, use robotic tools and attach and detach covers, the Canadian Space Agency said on its website.
A small hitch with powering the Dextre project was being worked on, NASA officials said, and the space crew was troubleshooting with software and other options.
Dextre was to be grappled to the station's robotic arm early Saturday in an effort to power its components. The next spacewalk is planned for 0023 GMT Sunday to assemble a Canadian robotic arm, known as Dextre.
Japan's Kibo is to house about 100 experiments that could aid the development of medications and test new materials in weightlessness.
With the addition of Kibo, Japan's Space Station Integration and Promotion Centre north of Tokyo will join other control centres in the United States, Russia and Germany in monitoring components of the space station.
After the shuttle programme retires, Russia's Soyuz craft will continue to lift astronauts to the station, but because of its small size will be unable to carry the huge construction pieces and experimental modules now being transported by the shuttle.
Endeavour is to return to Earth March 26.
