International Space Station gets extra module

The ISS silhouetted against the Earth

Another module has been added to the International Space Station (ISS).

It's wonderful to have one more module up here, and we're looking forward to using it

Commander Frank Culbertson

The five-metre-long (16 foot) compartment was delivered by a Russian craft and attached to the complex high above Mongolia.

"We felt that," said ISS commander Frank Culbertson to mission control, as the module was hooked on.

One of his Russian crewmates added: "We have a beautiful item on the station and also we have a beautiful view."

The current ISS crew are to spend four months on the platform

The compartment is the sixth habitable module of the ISS and the third to be launched by the Russian Space Agency.

Named Pirs, Russian for Pier, it will provide another docking port for the ISS. The commander and cosmonauts Vladimir Dezhurov and Mikhail Tyurin are one month into their four-month mission.

"It's wonderful to have one more module up here, and we're looking forward to using it," Culbertson said.