STS-88 was 12-day Space Shuttle mission to begin assembly of the International Space Station (ISS). On 5 December 1998, the Unity connecting module was first connected to Endeavour's docking system; on 6 December 1998, using the Shuttle's robot arm, the Zarya control module was captured from orbit and mated to Unity. Astronauts Ross and Newman conducted three space walks to attach cables, connectors and hand rails.