Astronauts aboard began inspecting the shuttle's heat shieldfor possible damage after Wednesday's launch. Officials spotted some debris falling off duringliftoff.
Astronauts began their first full day in space byinspecting the heat shield to ensure the shuttle is safe to return toEarth in two weeks. The seven-member crew controlled a robotic armequipped with cameras and lasers to scan the surface of the heat shield.
In Houston, NASA commentator Kylie Clem said officials in Houston monitored the seven-hour procedure.
"Thisdata is going to be downlinked to the ground and pored over by imageryanalysts looking for any signs that the heat shield incurred any damageduring the launch," he said.
The survey has become routine forshuttle flights, since the disaster in 2003. Foam insulationdamaged the shuttle's heat tiles during launch, which led to breaking apart upon re-entry.
NASA officials say cameras mountedon showed several pieces of debris falling away and hittingthe shuttle during launch late Wednesday. They said initial evidencesuggested there was no serious damage to the shuttle.
Astronauts will conduct additional surveys on Friday, when the shuttle docks with the International Space Station.
The is carrying the third and final segment of a Japanese sciencelaboratory to install at the space station. The module called - or"Hope" in Japanese - will allow astronauts to conduct experiments thatinvolve exposing materials to the vacuum of space.