Others at mission control shared similar sentiments. Dempsey said the cupola conjured up images of the spacecraft in the famed Star Wars movies.

VOA: standard.2010.02.18

This is Africa's Sahara Desert, as seen from the International Space Station's new seven-windowed cupola.

VOA: standard.2010.02.18

NASA says more panoramic pictures from inside the cupola should be available this week.

VOA: standard.2010.02.18

(Speaking) Spacewalkers bolted the cupola to its permanent Earth-facing position earlier this week.

VOA: standard.2010.02.18

"Astronauts who are accustomed to views that you and I cannot really describe were moved to tears when they looked out the windows of the cupola for the first time tonight."

VOA: standard.2010.02.18