It's time to make the space station a home.

The first two pieces of the station have been merrily orbiting the earth -- empty since December. Nobody lives there yet, and they won't until the year 2000. In fact, no astronauts have even set foot on the craft since the two modules were fitted together six months ago. In May, the shuttle crew was the first to visit the orbiting station -- making it cozy before the first residents move in.

The astronauts stocked the station with an array of living supplies from food to clothes to laptops. Basic supplies like this couldn't be launched with the station parts because it would have weighed them down too much. The cargo on this mission included some 5,000 pounds of goods -- since burning the fuel to blast that much extra weight into space with the station parts would have been too expensive. Using the shuttle as a moving van was far more efficient.

"We're putting out the welcome mat for the crew," said NASA spokesperson James Hartsfield. "Bringing up the luggage and moving in."

NASA, however, is a little more demanding than your average homeowner, and the shuttle astronauts had to transform into a very precise moving crew in order to accomplish their mission. For one thing, docking the shuttle to the space station was a lot tougher than just backing a truck into the driveway, especially since the station isn't fully completed. A third module of the station was expected to have been attached by May, but it was delayed until later in the year. This section will eventually give the finished station the pinpoint-precise control necessary for the smoothest landings. Docking without the third module is still possible, so NASA decided to go ahead with this scheduled delivery. But the station was free to rotate somewhat as the shuttle pilot tried to make contact, making for a pretty tricky maneuver.

Once docked, the crew spent several days poring over a long moving list that tells them where to put everything.

"You can't just throw the suppliess off," said Hartsfield. "You have to put them in very specific places, strap them down securely. You can't be sloppy."

Every can of food had a designated spot, since weight on the station has to be evenly distributed. All the goods then had to be strapped down so that nothing moves.

The astronauts also did some of the last minute fix-ups that any home needs before people move in. There were some floorboards that needed to be replaced, the communications system needed some tweaking, and a battery-charging system had to be retooled. None of these were problems that could really mar operations, but NASA naturally wanted to have the station in tiptop shape before anyone arrived.

Of course, every home needs utilities, and the shuttle crew also made sure these were in working order. Through its experience with Mir, NASA learned that the easiest way to transfer oxygen, fuel, and other necessary fluids to the station is through hoses a lot like those found at gas stations. During the mission the astronauts tested the whole system.

Lastly, the crew stashed a space crane on the station. It didn't actually get installed this time around, but the station crew will eventually use it to help them during space walks and to move large objects on the exterior of the station.

One thing the shuttle crew didn't bring aboard was a refrigerator. Eventually the space station will have one, but in the beginning, the astronauts living on the station are going to have to do without. That means all the food being brought aboard must be stable at room temperature. Moreover, there won't be enough extra water to rehydrate foods; this cargo was all canned and freeze-dried food. As a result, the station crew cannot expect any home-cooked meals during their stay. Other than that, however, the shuttle astronauts left the space station as comfy as any new house.