STS-116 MS Curbeam,Jr., prepares to open hatch on Space Shuttle Discovey

S116-E-05569 (11 Dec. 2006) --- Astronaut Robert L. Curbeam, Jr., STS-116 mission specialist, prepares to open the hatch that will lead the entire Space Shuttle Discovery crew into the International Space Station. This was just one highlight of a very busy day that earlier saw the flawless rendezvous and docking operations between the shuttle and station. Docking occurred at 4:12 p.m. (CST) and the crew entered the orbital outpost at 5:54 p.m. (CST) on Dec. 11.