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Astronauts get extra moving time at space station

This image provided by NASA TV shows the Space Shuttle Atlantis as it completes a pirouette for the space station cameras, for a final check to make sure there's no damage to the thermal tiles on its belly Wednesday Nov. 18, 2009. Atlantis arrived at the International Space Station on Wednesday for a weeklong stay, and the astronauts quickly unloaded a huge platform full of spare parts needed to keep the outpost running for another decade. (AP Photo/NASA)

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This image provided by NASA TV shows the Space Shuttle Atlantis with the shadow of the International Space station passing over it's cargo bay as the two pass over South America Wednesday Nov. 18, 2009. Atlantis arrived at the International Space Station on Wednesday for a weeklong stay, and the astronauts quickly unloaded a huge platform full of spare parts needed to keep the outpost running for another decade. (AP Photo/NASA)

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This image provided by NASA shows a partial view of Space Shuttle Atlantis' payload bay, vertical stabilizer, orbital maneuvering system pods and docking mechanism backdropped by a blue and white part of Earth in this image photographed by an STS-129 crew member from an aft flight deck window Tuesday Nov. 17, 2009. Atlantis arrived at the International Space Station on Wednesday for a weeklong stay, and the astronauts quickly unloaded a huge platform full of spare parts needed to keep the outpost running for another decade. (AP Photo/NASA)

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In this image taken from video, space shuttle Atlantis crewmen Michael Foreman and Dr. Robert Satcher, Jr., install a space antenna outside the International Space Station, Thursday, Nov. 19, 2009. (AP Photo/NASA)

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By MARCIA DUNN, The Associated Press Updated 3:26 AM Friday, November 20, 2009

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The astronauts aboard the shuttle-station complex are getting some extra moving time.

Space shuttle Atlantis has been declared free of any worrisome launch damage. That means the crewmen won't need to conduct another detailed inspection of their ship until after they leave the International Space Station. They will fill the extra time Friday by moving more supplies over to the outpost.

The first of three spacewalks planned for the mission was carried out successfully Thursday. The spacewalkers even got extra work accomplished. Two of the crew will venture back outside Saturday.

Atlantis will remain at the space station until the day before Thanksgiving. The shuttle delivered tons of spare parts and experiments.

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November 20, 2009 08:16 AM EST

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