NATION IN BRIEF: Space makeover begins

Shuttle Endeavour astronauts hitched a giant shipping crate full of home-improvement “goodies” to the international space station on Monday, a critical step for boosting the population in orbit. The more than 14,000 pounds of gear included an extra toilet, refrigerator and kitchenette, exercise machine, sleeping compartments and a new recycling system for converting urine into drinking water. NASA can’t double the number of space station residents from three to six next year until the equipment —- and more to be launched in February —- has been installed and tested.

Rules to tighten

on private flights

Closing what he called the last major vulnerability for bringing a weapon of mass destruction into the U.S., Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Monday announced new rules for screening passengers and crew members on private aircraft bound for the U.S. Starting in about a month, general aviation pilots will have to submit the names and other information about every person on board at least one hour before takeoff to give officials time to screen them against intelligence databases that list suspected terrorists.

Postal chief faces

mortgage probe

The Postal Service is investigating whether the nation’s postmaster general improperly received a sweetheart deal on a mortgage from Countrywide Financial Corp. Postmaster General John Potter is one of several prominent current and former U.S. officials who received discounts and other benefits from the mortgage giant. The Postal Service has hired an outside investigator to review the deal, which reportedly included one shaved point and waived fees for Potter’s $322,700 loan.

Scientist admits

illegal tech deal

A Virginia scientist pleaded guilty Monday to selling hydrogen-propelled rocket technology to China and bribing Chinese officials to secure a lucrative contract for his high-tech company. Quan-Sheng Shu, 68, president of AMAC International of Newport News and a naturalized U.S. citizen who was born in Shanghai, pleaded guilty to two counts of violating the federal Arms Control Act and one count of bribery in U.S. District Court in Norfolk. The Chinese government is developing a space launch facility in the province of Hainan that will house liquid-propelled launch vehicles designed to send space stations and satellites into orbit.

COMING UP

> The White House signaled Monday that the Pentagon will open two corridors of airspace from Florida to Maine to create a “Thanksgiving express lane” for commercial planes.