The space shuttle Atlantis and its crew of six arrived at the International Space Station Wednesday to drop off some massive spare parts for the orbiting laboratory.

The two vehicles linked up at 11:51 a.m. ET as the two spacecraft flew 220 miles (354 kilometers) above Earth. After sealing the link between them, astronauts opened the hatches at 1:29 p.m. ET.

"We're crashing the party," Atlantis commander Charlie Hobaugh radioed to the waiting station crew when the shuttle was about a mile away.

"We're looking forward to seeing you guys," station astronaut Jeff Williams replied.

Atlantis launched Monday carrying more than 27,000 pounds (12,246 kilograms) of cargo for the space station, including a pair of massive carrier platforms laden with large spare parts for the orbiting laboratory. The spares, which include huge gyroscopes, pumps and other gear, will be installed at the station during three spacewalks planned for the 11-day space mission.

Not wasting any time, the combined Atlantis-ISS crew is today in the midst of the STS-129 first space walk of this busy logistics mission. As usual, a rookie and an old hand are outside together in their suits/mini-spacecrafts, working hard and stealing glances at the earth flying underneath them.
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