There are no technical problems as of right now, officials reported at the 9 a.m. news briefing.

Countdown activities include checking out Endeavour's avionics today, loading liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen into the fuel cell system tonight and into Saturday morning, and then on Saturday do the final main engine preps and activate the shuttle's communication systems.

Early Sunday workers will move the Rotating Service Structure away from the vehicle and during the afternoon begin filling the shuttle's external tank with its half-million gallons of cryogenic propellant.

The forecast for early Monday remains at 80 percent go, with a chance of isolated rainshowers in the area being the only concern. The odds get worse by 10 percent each of the following two days.

Launch managers say they can make four launch attempts among five available to them that are spread over the four days beginning Monday morning. Because of the time of day of launch and the fact that the launch window backs up about 23 minutes each day, it appears there could be two launch attempts possible on a single calendar day in the Eastern Time zone.

NASA will announce Saturday afternoon the exact launch time for the first attempt on Monday.

Stay tuned to this page for updates throughout the countdown, launch and mission. Unless events warrant otherwise, our next update will be posted Saturday morning.

No issues for Monday launch
Saturday, Nov. 9, 2002 at 9:20 a.m. EST

The countdown to launch of shuttle Endeavour early Monday morning continues to go well at the Kennedy Space Center.

No technical problems have been reported and the weather forecast remains very favorable, with an 80 percent chance of acceptable conditions during the short 10-minute launch window.

Liftoff is expected between 12 and 4 a.m. on Monday, but later today NASA will announce the exact launch time and we will post that information here as soon as we can.

Meanwhile, the main activity at pad 39A today will be the final checks and preparations for the shuttle's three Rocketdyne main engines, as well as activation of Endeavour's communications systems along with NASA's worldwide tracking network.

Also at the pad today workers are expected to load a couple of last-minute items into Endeavour's middeck. Those items include a pair of valves that will be used to repair a carbon dioxide removing system in the Destiny science laboratory, as well as a thermal blanket that will be installed on an electronics black box on the S-Zero truss if there is time during the mission's third spacewalk.

One more weather note: If a launch cannot take place on Monday, the forecasts predict worsening weather as the week progresses. There is a 70 percent chance of good weather on Tuesday and only a 40 percent chance of good weather on Wednesday as a cold front is expected to move through the area.

The weather at the Trans Atlantic Landing abort sites also are a concern for launch attempts on Tuesday and Wednesday, so launch weather office Kathy Winters is saying that Monday is the best day to fly.

Stay tuned to this page for countdown updates. We will next update this page later this afternoon.

NASA announces Endeavour launch window
Saturday, Nov. 9, 2002 at 7:10 p.m. EST

Shuttle Endeavour will lift off for the International Space Station early Monday morning at 12:58:40 a.m. EST (0558.40 GMT), NASA officials announced tonight.

That's the exact moment when the space station's orbital plane passes over the Kennedy Space Center, and the preferred time that mission managers want to fly.

But with the shuttle's available propellant to steer the vehicle into the proper orbit, the full launch window runs from 12:53:39 to 1:03:39 a.m. EST.

There remains an 80 percent chance of acceptable weather conditions for launch and technically everything is looking good at pad 39A.

Stay tuned to this page for updates. We will next update this page Sunday morning.

Countdown continues at Canaveral Spaceport
Sunday, Nov. 10, 2002 at 7:30 a.m. EST

Preparations to launch shuttle Endeavour overnight tonight at 12:58:40 a.m. EST Monday continue at the Kennedy Space Center with no reported problems.

The major activitiy for today will be the loading of Endeavour's external tank with a half-million gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant. This will be used to power the trio of Rocketdyne main engines during the climb to orbit.

First, the orbiter's electricity-generating fuel cell system will be turned on this morning about 10:15 a.m. EST and that will be followed by KSC security clearing the blast danger area around the launch pad so the final fueling can begin.

Following a shuttle management meeting, tanking is expected to start about 3:30 p.m. EST and take about three hours to complete.

The exact movements and schedule of the flight crew is no longer released by NASA as part of heightened security measures. But they are expected to be boarding the shuttle by the time NASA TV begins live launch coverage at 9:30 p.m. EST.

Meanwhile, the weather forecast remains optimistic with an 80 percent chance of acceptable conditions.

As a result, it's not fair to judge how the day will go just because Space Coast skies were overcast as the sun came up this morning. Residents and long time space watchers know Florida weather has a habit of rapidly changing.

Stay tuned to this page for updates throughout the day and into the evening. Our next update is expected when tanking begins this afternoon, and we're pleased to welcome back our colleague Roger Guillemette, who will be handling update duties today and assisting the Cape Canaveral Bureau during the STS-113 mission.

Faulty camera delays Endeavour tanking
Sunday, Nov. 10, 2002 at 4:14 p.m. EST

Tanking operations, or the filling of shuttle Endeavour's massive external tank with a half-million gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, has been delayed. This three-hour procedure was scheduled to start at about 3:30 p.m. EST but has been delayed as technicians attempt to repair a camera on the launch pad and then file the necessary paperwork before tanking operations can commence. NASA officials are not concerned as they can wait until as late as 6 p.m. EST to begin tanking without an impact on tonight's launch attempt.

Meanwhile, there are no other technical problems being worked at pad 39A as the countdown is proceeding smoothly toward tonight's launch of Endeavour.

Launch is scheduled for 12:58:40 a.m. EST - a final adjustment of the launch time will be made at the T-9 minute hold to more precisely align with the space station's orbit.

The exact movements and schedule of the flight crew is no longer released by NASA as part of heightened security measures. But they are expected to be boarding the shuttle by the time NASA TV begins live launch coverage at 9:30 p.m. EST.

The official launch weather forecast has been upgraded to a very optimistic 90 percent chance of acceptable conditions during tonight's 10-minute launch window.

Tanking in progress for Endeavour launch
Sunday, Nov. 10, 2002 at 4:40 p.m. EST

Tanking operations, or the filling of shuttle Endeavour's massive external tank with a half-million gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, is finally under way. The three-hour procedure started at 4:32 p.m. EST - about an hour behind schedule as technicians scrambled to fix a faulty camera on the launch pad and then file the necessary paperwork before tanking operations could commence.

Meanwhile, there are no other technical problems being worked at pad 39A as the countdown is proceeding smoothly toward tonight's launch of Endeavour.

Launch is scheduled for 12:58:40 a.m. EST (Monday) - a final adjustment of the launch time will be made at the T-9 minute hold to more precisely align with the space station's orbit.

The exact movements and schedule of the flight crew is no longer released by NASA as part of heightened security measures; however, the astronauts should be boarding the shuttle when NASA TV begins live launch coverage at 9:30 p.m. EST.

The official launch weather forecast has been upgraded to a very optimistic 90 percent chance of acceptable conditions during tonight's 10-minute launch window.

Endeavour fueled for launch
Sunday, Nov. 10, 2002 at 7:40 p.m. EST

Shuttle Endeavour's external tank is now filled with a half-million gallons of super-chilled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen in preparation for this evening's launch attempt. Fueling, or "tanking," operations started at 4:32 p.m. EST and just concluded at 7:27 p.m. EST. The vehicle is now in "stable replenish" mode and its massive fuel tank will continue to be topped-off until launch time.

No technical problems are being reported at pad 39A as the countdown clock continues to tick down for this evening's launch attempt.

Launch is scheduled for 12:58:40 a.m. EST (Monday) - a final adjustment of the launch time will be made at the T-9 minute hold to more precisely align with the space station's orbit.

The exact movements and schedule of the flight crew is no longer released by NASA as part of heightened security measures; however, the astronauts should be boarding the shuttle when NASA TV begins live launch coverage at 9:30 p.m. EST.

The official launch weather forecast has been upgraded to a very optimistic 90 percent chance of acceptable conditions during tonight's 10-minute launch window.

Stay tuned to this page for updates into the evening. Our next update is expected when tanking operations are completed at about 7:30 p.m. EST.

NASA TV coverage of the launch will begin at about 9:30 p.m. EST and you are invited to watch by clicking on the link above to our video feed.

If you are on Florida's Space Coast you can listen to SPACE.com's live coverage of the launch by tuning your AM radio to WMMB NewsTalk 1240 or 1350.

Astronauts arrive at launch pad for Endeavour launch
Sunday, Nov. 10, 2002 at 9:35 p.m. EST

NASA launch commentary has just started and video is being broadcast of the seven astronauts entering Endeavour in preparation for launch.

The silver 'Astro-Van' has completed its journey from the Kennedy Space Center's Operations & Checkout Building out to the launch pad and Commander Jim Wetherbee is preparing to enter the Orbiter.

Shuttle Endeavour's external tank is filled with a half-million gallons of super-chilled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for this evening's launch attempt. Fueling, or "tanking," operations started at 4:32 p.m. EST and were completed at 7:27 p.m. EST. The vehicle is now in "stable replenish" mode and its massive fuel tank will continue to be topped-off until launch time.

An oxygen leak has been detected in the system that supplies the crew cabin - mission managers are now assessing the seriousness of the problem. No other technical problems are being reported at pad 39A as the countdown clock continues to tick down for this evening's launch attempt. Technicians of the 'Ice Team' is now at the pad inspecting the shuttle and the platforms surrounding the vehicle.

Launch remains scheduled for 12:58:40 a.m. EST (Monday) - a final adjustment of the launch time will be made at the T-9 minute hold to more precisely align with the space station's orbit.

The official launch weather forecast has been upgraded to a very optimistic 90 percent chance of acceptable conditions during tonight's 10-minute launch window.

Oxygen leak scrubs Endeavour launch
Sunday, Nov. 10, 2002 at 9:45 p.m. EST

An oxygen leak in the crew cabin has just scrubbed the launch of shuttle Endeavour.

No word yet as to how long the mission will be delayed.

The crew is now exiting the vehicle.

Endeavour launch off until at least Tuesday
Sunday, Nov. 10, 2002 at 10:01 p.m. EST

Details are still sketchy, but an oxygen line leak in the midbody of shuttle Endeavour has delayed the launch until at least Tuesday - and NASA spokesman George Diller acknowleged that "it will probably be hard to do that."

Two lines located under the payload bay carry gaseous oxygen into the Orbiter's cabin as well as the astronauts' flight suits and helmets during ascent and descent. The launch team detected about a one pound per hour leak rate and mission managers were uncertain if the flow in the second line would be sufficient to supply the crew.

The crew has now departed from pad 39A and the 'Astro Van' is carrying the astronauts back to the crew quarters.

Endeavour launch delayed until Monday
Sunday, Nov. 10, 2002 at 11:24 p.m. EST

Workers at the Kennedy Space Center have been informed over an internal communications loop that the next launch attempt will occur no earlier than November 18th and to prepare for "extended turnaround operations."

Details are still sketchy, but an oxygen line leak in the midbody of shuttle Endeavour has delayed the launch attempt originally schedule for about 12:58:40 a.m. EST Monday.

Two lines located under the payload bay carry gaseous oxygen into the Orbiter's cabin as well as the astronauts' flight suits and helmets during ascent and descent. The launch team detected about a one pound per hour leak rate and mission managers were uncertain if the flow in the second line would be sufficient to supply the crew.

Endeavour launch delayed at least one week
Monday, Nov. 11, 2002 at 1:15 a.m. EST

An oxygen leak that "appeared out of the blue" has delayed the next launch attempt of shuttle Endeavour until no earlier than Monday, November 18th. This target launch date is based on a best-case scenario for troubleshooting and repair of the leaking line.

A leak was detected in one of two lines that carry gaseous oxygen into the Orbiter's cabin as well as the astronauts' flight suits and helmets during the ascent and descent phases of the mission. The launch team detected oxygen leaking at about a one pound per hour rate shortly after tanking operations commenced.

Mission managers were troubled by the sudden appearance of a leak because both oxygen lines had successfully passed pressure tests during routine Orbiter pre-launch processing. This uncertainty led to the decision to scrub today's launch attempt.

A more complex repair operation requiring the removal of the shuttle's payload would further delay the next launch attempt although NASA officials are hopeful that this will not be the case.

Endeavour repairs begin; Astronauts return to Houston
Monday, Nov. 11, 2002 at 8:45 p.m. EST

Technicians at the Kennedy Space Center drained propellants from shuttle Endeavour's external tank Monday and began the laborious task of accessing the Orbiter's payload bay to determine the source of an oxygen leak that forced a launch scrub on Sunday evening.

In a best-case scenario, the next launch attempt for Endeavour will be no earlier than Monday evening, November 18th during a launch period extending from 7 to 11 p.m. EST. The seven STS-113 crewmembers decided to return to the Johnson Space Center and remain in quarantine to await the next launch attempt.

Shortly after tanking operations commenced on Sunday evening, an oxygen leak "appeared out the blue" in one of two lines that carry gaseous oxygen into the Orbiter's cabin as well as the astronauts' flight suits and helmets during the ascent and descent phases of the mission. Mission managers were troubled by the sudden appearance of a leak because both oxygen lines had successfully passed pressure tests during pre-launch processing and ordered the launch postponement to investigate the source of the leak and make the necessary repairs.

Endeavour is scheduled to deliver a fresh crew to the International Space Station, install the station's P1 Truss assembly and return the ISS Expedition 5 crew to Earth.

Stay tuned to this page for status updates throughout the week.

Oxygen leak found, x-rays taken of arm
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002 at 10:30 a.m. EST

Workers at pad 39A have identified the source of the oxygem leak that scrubbed Endeavour's initial launch attempt this past weekend as being in a flexible hose that is near the forward bulkhead of the cargo bay. Workers will not have to remove the P1 truss to repair the leak, said NASA spokesman Bruce Buckingham.

There is a nitrogen line physically attached to the oxygen line segment that must be replaced, so engineers are trying to figure out what their options are, but so far it appears Endeavour can still be ready to launch Monday night -- at least in terms of the leaking oxygen issue.

The unknown now concerns possible damage to the shuttle's robot arm by the work platform being used at the launch pad to allow workers access to repair the oxygen line. While the platform was being moved on Tuesday it accidentally touched the robot arm with enough force to tear a thermal blanket near its shoulder joint.

Workers already have taken x-rays of the suspect area and are studying those images right now, Buckingham said.

Although the arm can be electrically tested in the cargo bay, it cannot be mechanically tested there or moved at all in normal Earth gravity without the help of equipment that is located in the shuttle's Orbiter Processing Facility. So if those types of tests are required, the delay in launch could stretch to several more weeks.

The flight plan calls for the use of the shuttle arm to pluck the 14-ton P1 truss from Endeavour's cargo bay and hand it off to the station's arm, which then will be used to install the truss in place.

A meeting of senior program managers is planned for 1 p.m. EST today. We will update this page with the results of that meeting later today.

Endeavour launch on Monday looks good so far
Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002 at 5:45 p.m. EST

Shuttle program managers are pressing ahead with plans to launch Endeavour Monday night, although it will probably be late Friday before officials will be ready to give the space shot their full blessings.

The oxygen leak that scrubbed an initial launch attempt this past weekend is being repaired at pad 39A and that work continues to go well, NASA spokesman James Hartsfield said Wednesday afternoon. Engineers still are trying to understand what caused the leak in the flexible hose in the first place and do not yet have any answers.

At the same time, officials are trying to figure out the extent of damage to Endeavour's robot arm when a moving work platform at pad 39A "scuffed" the Canadarm near its shoulder joint on Tuesday, Hartsfield said.

A thermal blanket was torn and there is some scratches on the material beneath. A team of Canadian engineers is traveling to the Cape to perform ultrasound inspections on Thursday and present an analysis of the results, possibly by late Friday.

Assuming both issues are officially closed, Endeavour will launch between 7 and 11 p.m. EST on Monday. The exact launch time will be released about 24 hours prior to liftoff.

Stay tuned to this page for updates later this week.

Shuttle schedule still uncertain
Friday, Nov. 15, 2002 at 12:15 p.m. EST

Kennedy Space Center workers still are preparing Endeavour for launch as early as Monday, but depending on the resolution of a pair of technical issues and when Boeing plans to attempt launch of its new Delta 4 rocket, Endeavour's blast off could easily slip to at least Thursday.

In fact, as of this moment Boeing has booked the Eastern Range for a launch attempt on Tuesday and NASA has requested the range for Thursday and Friday for Endeavour. All of this could change and flip around depending, again, on the resolution of technical problems both programs are facing.

For the shuttle, NASA officials still are studying the oxygen line leak that prevented launch last weekend. Although the leaking line inside Endeavour has been replaced, inspections and tests on similar flexible hoses are in work on other ships to see if there is a generic problem with this type of plumbing throughout the orbiter fleet.

The other problem is with Endeavour's robot arm, which was damaged during the oxygen line repair when a moving platform scuffed the arm near its shoulder joint, tearing a thermal blanket and denting an outer layer of the arm. Canadian inspectors are checking to see if the main carbon composite interior of the arm was damaged as well.

The potential problems there are that if the arm needs to be replaced, or if further mechanical testing is required to ensure it is healthy, neither of those tasks can be done with Endeavour at its launch pad.

Shuttle program director Ron Dittemore plans to brief the news media on NASA's plans during a 7:30 p.m. EST telecon. We will update this page with his comments as soon after that event as we can.

Still waiting on word from NASA
Friday, Nov. 15, 2002 at 8:30 p.m. EST

For those of you waiting on pins and needles, we're standing by for our telecon with shuttle program manager Ron Dittemore.

The meeting was set for 7:30 p.m. EST but has been delayed while Dittemore continues running the meeting -- the result of which we are expecting to report yet tonight.

The current thinking is that Endeavour will be targeted for launch no earlier than next Friday. That's what employees are being told in multiple venues, but we're still waiting to hear Dittemore's report to confirm that and understand the thinking behind it.

Again, we will report something here as soon as we know it.

Endeavour delayed to Friday
Friday, Nov. 15, 2002 at 9:15 p.m. EST

Shuttle Endeavour will launch no earlier than next Friday, Nov. 22, pending the successful resolution of a pair of technical concerns, Shuttle program manager Ron Dittemore said tonight. Saturday the 23rd also is available on the Eastern Range.

Kennedy Space Center workers were preparing Endeavour for a possible launch Monday night, but the need to spend more time looking at the troubles, as well as Eastern Range scheduling issues, result in next Friday being the earliest date the shuttle can be ready to fly.

Engineers are trying to determine if there is a generic problem with the shuttle fleet's gaseous oxygen plumbing. A flexible hose that sends oxygen into Endeavour's crew cabin was replaced after it leaked and caused last weekend's scrub. Checks of that hose found that it most likely failed because of wear from age.

The other concern is with Endeavour's robot arm, which was damaged when a work platform accidentally rubbed against it during work on the oxygen line in the shuttle's cargo bay.

A thermal blanket was torn and scrapes could be seen in its honeycomb outer layer, as well as some "bruising" or delamination on the composite core of the arm. Engineers are trying to determine if the robot arm's structural integrity has been compromised.

In the event the arm is found to be suspect -- or altogether unusable -- managers are considering options that include removing the arm at the launch pad and flying the mission without it. Setting up to do all that would delay the mission several weeks.