Mon, Feb 08, 2010
Weather Scrubbed First Attempt Early Sunday
Space shuttle Endeavour lit up the predawn sky above Florida's
Space Coast on Monday with a 0414 EST launch from NASA's Kennedy
Space Center. The shuttle's last scheduled night launch began a
13-day flight to the International Space Station and the final year
of shuttle operations.
File Photo
Endeavour's STS-130 mission will include three spacewalks and
the delivery of the Tranquility node, the final major U.S. portion
of the station. Tranquility will provide additional room for crew
members and many of the space station's life support and
environmental control systems.
Attached to Tranquility is a cupola with seven windows, which
houses a robotic control station. The windows will provide a
panoramic view of Earth, celestial objects and visiting spacecraft.
After the node and cupola are added, the orbiting laboratory will
be approximately 90 percent complete.
Shortly before liftoff, Commander George Zamka said, "Thanks to
the great team that got Tranquility, cupola and Endeavour to this
point. And thanks also to the team that go us ready to bring
Node 3 and cupola to life. We'll see you in a couple of weeks. It's
time to go fly."
Cupola Dome Artists' Concept
Zamka is joined on the flight by Pilot Terry Virts and Mission
Specialists Kathryn Hire, Stephen Robinson, Nicholas Patrick and
Robert Behnken. Virts is making his first trip to space.
Endeavour's first landing opportunity at Kennedy is scheduled
for Saturday, February 20, at 2201 EST The STS-130 mission will be
Endeavour's 24th flight and the 32nd shuttle mission dedicated to
station assembly and maintenance.
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