A NASA expert said that the crew will have to train themselves in precise aiming of 800-millimeter lens of the two digital Kodak cameras at the window past which the Discovery will later fly.
The photos of the approaching shuttle is necessary to become convinced that its skin is not damaged. Thus, before the Discovery's flight back to the Earth, specialists must be sure that the ceramic skin of the spaceship's body had not been damaged as it happened with the Columbia shuttle on February 1, 2003.
According to the NASA expert, in taking photos of the rapidly flying Discovery, Sergei Krikalev and John Phillips will have to remain motionless, sitting by the windows, so that the photos be clear.
"In the service module, the windows are unfortunately not equipped with handholes at which the cosmonauts can catch. Therefore, during the training they must clearly imagine how in conditions of zero-G and being limited in time they can ensure that their bodies and the cameras be motionless," the expert said.
Before starting his flight to the ISS, commander of the 11th expedition Sergei Krikalev, said that before docking with the ISS the Discovery will perform the so-called "tumble" and will fly under the station bottom up at a distance of 200 metres. It is at this moment that the crew will have to photograph the American spaceship.
