NASA Astronauts To Open New Space Station Windows

coondoggie writes "After some fancy robotic crane work over the past couple days, NASA Endeavour astronauts are preparing for tonight's final spacewalk where they will open the windows on the space station's sweet new dome-shaped observatory. The cupola observatory module is considered the ultimate observation deck. It is attached to an Earth-facing side of the International Space Station and has seven windows — six around the sides and one on top — that can be shuttered when not in use to protect them from micrometeoroids and the harsh space environment."

Comments

Already opened?

[MilesTails]

Catch up slashdot. According to this article they are already open. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8518744.stm

Might want to rethink this.

[sunking2]

Opening the windows hardly seems like an ideal thing to do. The tiltable easy clean windows may have sounded like a great idea but really aren't all that practical.

Talk about the ultimate makeout spot!

[Locke2005]

Plus, you can always use the classic line, "Hey! I can see your house from here!" Now if I could just get an attractive female to accompany to the ISS and into the cupola (without my wife finding out!)

Not a good idea...

[DdJ]

I think installing Windows in space is a very bad idea. I know things have improved, but even today, the main cause of all crashes that I observe has been Windows, and you do not want a space station to crash.

Wait, what?

Opening the windows...

[Arancaytar]

... on a space station.

Brilliant idea. :P

Here's a better picture (from the source)

[mcgrew]

Here is the NASA full size photo. It's today's NASA Image of the Day.