Two shuttle astronauts have floated out into space to put finishing touches on the International Space Station's new science lab.

Astronauts on board the Atlantis shuttle were due to take a space walk today to help attach a temporary docking port to the Alpha space station’s new science laboratory.

The crews of the US space shuttle Atlantis and international space station Alpha yesterday entered the science laboratory Destiny for the first time after it was attached to its new home.

NASA is preparing to launch a laboratory for the international space station.