STS-127 Countdown to Launch
DaysHoursMinutesSeconds

Mission Highlights
(Times Approximate)
Saturday, July 11
KSC Launch
7:39 p.m. EDT (2339 GMT)
Flight Day 2
Shuttle Heat Shield Survey
Flight Day 3
Shuttle Docks at ISS
Flight Day 4
First Spacewalk Begins
Japanese Porch Installed at ISS
Flight Day 5
In-Flight Interviews
Flight Day 6
Second Spacewalk Begins
Spare Parts Delivered to ISS
Flight Day 7
Robotic Arm Handoffs for:
Kibo porch cargo pallet
ISS spare part pallet
Flight Day 8
Crew Takes Time Off
Flight Day 9
Third Spacewalk Begins
Kibo Lab External Preparations
Solar Array Battery Swap
Flight Day 11
Japanese Kibo Experiments Installed
In-Flight Interviews
Flight Day 12
Fourth Spacewalk Begins
Solar Array Battery Swap/Kibo Camera work
Flight Day 13
Crew Takes Time Off
Flight Day 13
Robotic arm handoffs
Flight Day 13
Joint Crew News Conference
Flight Day 14
Fifth Spacewalk Begins
ISS Maintenance Work
Flight Day 14
Crew Farewell Ceremony/
Hatch Closure
Flight Day 15
ISS Undocking
Flight Day 16
Heat Shield Inspection
Flight Control Systems Check
Small Payload Deploys
In-Flight Interviews
11:15 p.m. EDT
Flight Day 17
De-orbit Burn
KSC Landing
Post-landing conference
Landing+2 Hours
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Space Shuttle to Launch July 11 After Successful Leak Test
NASA's shuttle Endeavour is set to launch on July 11 after a successful fuel tank test Wednesday. > Read More

No Leaks Yet in Shuttle Fueling Test
1 July 2009 9:15 a.m. EDT

So far, so good for NASA’s fueling test of the space shuttle Endeavour. NASA spokesperson Candrea Thomas reports that there has been no sign of a hydrogen gas leak similar to those that thwarted two launch attempts last month. Endeavour’s attached 15-story fuel tank has been loaded with the cryogenic liquid hydrogen propellant needed for a shuttle launch. The last of its liquid oxygen supply should be loaded aboard by about 10 a.m. EDT.

“So far, teams have not seen any indications of leaks beyond the acceptable parameters for launch,” Thomas said.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Endeavour’s tanking test live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Shuttle Endeavour’s Fueled With Liquid Hydrogen
1 July 2009 8:55 a.m. EDT

NASA has completed filling Endeavour’s fuel tank with the liquid hydrogen required for today’s tanking test and is now topping off the tank. This point is where hydrogen gas leaks have appeared in the past, so engineers are watching the shuttle’s repaired umbilical plate and vent line closely to see if the recent fixes have been successful.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Endeavour’s tanking test live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Shuttle Endeavour’s Fueling Test on Track
1 July 2009 8:33 a.m. EDT

Today’s fueling of the massive external tank attached to the space shuttle Endeavour is proceeding as planned. You can watch it live on NASA TV. So far, the 15-story tank is about 25 percent full.

The fueling process, known as a tanking test, began on time at about 7:00 a.m. EDT (1100 GMT) and is expected to take about three hours. Sometime between 9 a.m. and 9:30 am EDT, the tank should reach the 98 percent mark, at which time NASA will learn if recent repairs to the tank’s hydrogen vent line were successful.

The fueling test is critical in order to clear Endeavour for a July 11 launch. A hydrogen gas leak prevented two earlier attempts on June 13 and June 17.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA is broadcasting Endeavour’s tanking test live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Fueling Test Begins for Shuttle Endeavour
1 July 2009 7:00 a.m. EDT

NASA has begun a critical fueling test for the space shuttle Endeavour to determine if external fuel tank repairs have been successful and will allow a planned July 11 launch. You can watch it live on NASA TV.

The test will load Endeavour’s massive external tank with the 526,000 gallons of super-chilled liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen while watching for leaks on a hydrogen gas vent line. A misalignment in a Teflon seal on the umbilical plate that connects the vent line to the external tank appeared to be the reason for excessive hydrogen gas leaks during launch attempts on June 13 and June 17, forcing NASA to stand down to avoid an explosion risk.

NASA has since replaced the single Teflon seal with a two-part version and installed special washers to help correct the misalignment. Today’s test is expected to run about three hours.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s tanking test live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Shuttle Launch Cancelled
17 June 2009 1:55 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA has cancelled today's planned launch of the space shuttle Endeavour after a hydrogen gas leak was discovered on a vent pipe leading off the shuttle's external tank.

A leak of gaseous hydrogen from this same location prompted NASA to cancel the shuttle's first launch attempt June 13.

Over the last four days workers swapped out the seal on this vent pipe in hopes of stopping the leak, but the repair apparently didn't fix the problem.

Click here for SPACE.com’s most launch preview story.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Countdown Resumed; Leak Persists
16 June 2009 1:50 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA has picked up the countdown toward Endeavour's planned launch today at 5:40 a.m. EDT (0940 GMT), even though engineers have not resolved a gas leak problem on the shuttle's external tank.

Workers are trying to troubleshoot the problem and gather data on why the leak persists despite a replacement of the seal between the leaking vent pipe and the shuttle's external fuel tank.

The launch countdown is now at T minus 2 hours, 54 minutes.

Click here for SPACE.com’s most launch preview story.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


NASA Troubleshoots Gas Leak on Shuttle
16 June 2009 1:30 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA crews are trying to fix a leak of hydrogen gas from a vent pipe off the shuttle Endeavour's external fuel tank.

Engineers have stopped and started the flow of liquid hydrogen into the tank repeatedly in attempts to adjust the amount of fuel in the tank, in order to cycle the valves on the seal between the pipe and the shuttle.

"There are some encouraging signs," NASA commentator Mike Curie said of the repair efforts.

NASA is already in a battle against the clock to complete tanking and countdown preparations in advance of Endeavour's planned launch at 5:40 a.m. EDT (0940 GMT) from here at Kennedy Space Center.

Click here for SPACE.com’s most launch preview story.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Hydrogen Fueling Stopped
16 June 2009 1:04 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Engineers have stopped loading liquid hydrogen into the shuttle Endeavour's external fuel tank after a leak was discovered in a vent pipe connected to the tank. NASA is evaluating possible ways to stop the leak.

A leak of gaseous hydrogen from this same location prompted NASA to cancel the shuttle's first launch attempt June 13.

"Engineers are monitoring a leak at the same location where a leak was detected during our previous launch attempt," NASA commentator Mike Curie said. "It’s a leak in the amount greater than we would anticipate at this time."

Over the last four days workers have swapped out the seal on this vent pipe in hopes of stopping the leak, but this early indication suggests it might be reappearing. If the problem persists it could force NASA to cancel today's launch attempt as well.

Click here for SPACE.com’s most launch preview story.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Leak Detected At Problem Area
16 June 2009 1:00 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Ground crews have noticed a gas leak in the area of the seal between a vent pipe and the external tank on the space shuttle Endeavour. A leak of gaseous hydrogen from this same location prompted NASA to cancel the shuttle's first launch attempt June 13.

"Engineers are monitoring a leak at the same location where a leak was detected during our previous launch attempt," NASA commentator Mike Curie said. "It’s a leak in the amount greater than we would anticipate at this time."

Over the last four days workers have swapped out the seal on this vent pipe in hopes of stopping the leak, but this early indication suggests it might be reappearing. If the problem persists it could force NASA to cancel today's launch attempt as well.

Click here for SPACE.com’s most launch preview story.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Endeavour Crew to Hear Weather Briefing
16 June 2009 12:55 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Endeavour's seven-astronaut crew is preparing to hear a briefing about the weather outlook for their planned launch today at 5:40 a.m. EDT (0940 GMT) from here at Kennedy Space Center.

"While Endeavour is tanked, we will have our launch day weather briefing with mission control at 0110 EDT," the shuttle's commander Mark Polansky said via Twitter. "We're putting on our game faces."

Click here for SPACE.com’s most launch preview story.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


NASA Races The Clock To Complete Countdown
16 June 2009 12:36 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA is scrambling to plan a condensed countdown to the space shuttle Endeavour's scheduled launch today at 5:40 a.m. EDT (0940 GMT), after fueling began three hours late due to bad weather.

Tanking of the space shuttle Endeavour's liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant is now progressing smoothly after beginning shortly after 11:00 p.m. EDT, pushed back from its initial start time of 8:15 p.m. – a record tanking delay. NASA teams think they can make up for lost time and complete all the preparations necessary for this morning's launch with a hurried schedule.

"We enjoy challenges and the team is really performing in an outstanding manner," shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach said. "We're going to give it our shot. If we don’t get there, we just don’t get there."

Click here for SPACE.com’s most launch preview story.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


NASA Races The Clock To Complete Countdown
16 June 2009 12:36 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA is scrambling to plan a condensed countdown to the space shuttle Endeavour's scheduled launch today at 5:40 a.m. EDT (0940 GMT), after fueling began three hours late due to bad weather.

Tanking of the space shuttle Endeavour's liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant is now progressing smoothly after beginning shortly after 11:00 p.m. EDT, pushed back from its initial start time of 8:15 p.m. – a record tanking delay. NASA teams think they can make up for lost time and complete all the preparations necessary for this morning's launch with a hurried schedule.

"We enjoy challenges and the team is really performing in an outstanding manner," shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach said. "We're going to give it our shot. If we don’t get there, we just don’t get there."

Click here for SPACE.com’s most launch preview story.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Tanking Proceeding Smoothly
16 June 2009 11:40 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Tanking of the space shuttle Endeavour's liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant is progressing smoothly after beginning shortly after 11:00 p.m. EDT.

Fueling was delayed by about three hours because of thunderstorms and lightning near the shuttle's Launch Pad 39A here at Kennedy Space Center. Now the shuttle team is working quickly to try make up for lost time to prepare Endeavour for its planned launch at 5:40 a.m. EDT (0940 GMT) tomorrow.

Click here for SPACE.com’s most launch preview story.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Shuttle "Go" For Tanking
16 June 2009 11:06 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA has given the go ahead to begin filling the space shuttle Endeavour's fuel tank for launch tomorrow.

The verdict came almost three hours after the planned start of tanking at 8:15 p.m. EDT. Fueling was stalled because of thunderstorms and lightning near the shuttle's Launch Pad 39A here at Kennedy Space Center.

NASA will now try to make up for lost time to prepare the shuttle for its scheduled launch at 5:40 a.m. EDT (0940 GMT) tomorrow.

Lightning is dangerous during tanking because of the chance it could ignite the shuttle's highly flammable liquid propellants. It also poses a danger to equipment and people working outside.

Click here for SPACE.com’s most launch preview story.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Weather Looking Better For Shuttle Tanking
16 June 2009 10:35 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – It's getting down to the wire, but mission managers are hopeful they may be able to begin fueling the space shuttle Endeavour tonight in time to prepare the vehicle for its planned launch tomorrow at 5:40 a.m. EDT (0940 GMT) from here at the Kennedy Space Center.

Foul weather has so far delayed tanking of Endeavour. Fueling was scheduled to begin at 8:15 p.m. EDT, but thunderstorms and lightning in the area forced NASA to hold off. Lately those storms have started to clear.

"That is giving the launch teams optimism that perhaps they could get a shot at beginning fueling operations," NASA spokesman Allard Beutel said.

Endeavour's seven-astronaut crew standing by.

"Waiting for word on whether we can tank the vehicle or not," Endeavour's commander Mark Polansky said via Twitter. "Time will tell. Can't worry about things that we can't control."

Lightning is dangerous during tanking because of the chance it could ignite the shuttle's highly flammable liquid propellants. It also poses a danger to equipment and people working outside.

Click here for SPACE.com’s most launch preview story.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Shuttle Launch Plans in Weather Hold
16 June 2009 9:21 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Mission managers are anxiously monitoring the weather here in hopes that crews can begin filling the shuttle Endeavour's giant orange external fuel tank with its liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen propellant.

Fueling was scheduled to begin at 8:15 p.m. EDT, but thunderstorms and lightning in the area have forced NASA to delay. The agency has about two hours to begin fueling without impacting the planned launch of Endeavour tomorrow at 5:40 a.m. EDT (0940 GMT) liftoff here from the Kennedy Space Center.

Lightning is dangerous during tanking because of the chance it could ignite the shuttle's highly flammable liquid propellants. It also poses a danger to equipment and people working outside.

The weather forecast predicts an 80 percent chance of good launch conditions Wednesday morning.

Click here for SPACE.com’s most launch preview story.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Shuttle Fueling Delayed Over Weather
16 June 2009 8:45 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Fueling has not begun on the space shuttle Endeavour as planned because of thunderstorms in the area. Tanking was scheduled to start at 8:15 p.m. EDT, but NASA has forestalled over weather concerns.

Ground teams are poised to begin fueling as soon as the weather clears. NASA has until about 10:00 p.m. EDT to begin fueling without impacting the planned launch of Endeavour tomorrow at 5:40 a.m. EDT (0940 GMT) liftoff here from the Kennedy Space Center.

The weather forecast predicts an 80 percent chance of good launch conditions Wednesday morning.

Click here for SPACE.com’s most launch preview story.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Shuttle Endeavour in Launch Position
16 June 2009 2:30 p.m. EDT

The space shuttle Endeavour is in launch position with NASA’s countdown clock ticking down toward a planned 5:40 a.m. EDT (0940 GMT) liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The launch clock resumed counting down toward liftoff from the T-11 hours mark at 1:15 p.m. EDT (1715 GMT).

Endeavour’s crew is slated to awake at 6:45 p.m. EDT (2245 GMT) and NASA plans to begin fueling the shuttle’s 15-story external tank at 8:15 p.m. EDT (0015 Thurs. GMT). The weather forecast predicts an 80 percent chance of good launch conditions.

Click here for SPACE.com’s most launch preview story.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Shuttle Endeavour Primed for Fueling
16 June 2009 11:26 a.m. EDT

NASA has unveiled the space shuttle Endeavour atop its seaside launch pad in preparation for its planned 5:40 a.m. EDT (0940 GMT) launch tomorrow from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Pad crews have retracted the shroud-like Rotating Service Structure, which protected Endeavour from weather at the pad.

NASA plans to begin fueling Endeavour’s 15-story fuel tank at 8:15 a.m. EDT (0015 Wed. GMT) for tomorrow’s launch attempt. Live coverage will begin at 12:30 a.m. EDT.

Click here for SPACE.com’s most recent launch date update.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


NASA Mulls Shuttle Launch Date
15 June 2009 10:57 a.m. EDT

NASA is expected to announce this afternoon a new targeted launch date for the space shuttle Endeavour's STS-127 mission. The shuttle had planned to lift off June 13 but was grounded because of a potentially dangerous hydrogen gas leak from its external tank.

NASA may try to launch Endeavour on Wednesday, if they are able to complete repairs quickly enough. The shuttle's launch date must be juggled with the liftoff plans of launch two new lunar probes set to travel to the moon that day atop an unmanned rocket launching from the nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Endeavour is slated to launch on a 16-day mission to the International Space Station to deliver a Japanese-built porch for the outpost’s Kibo lab.

Click here for SPACE.com’s launch delay story.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


NASA Weighs Shuttle Launch Delay
14 June 2009 9:30 a.m. EDT

Top NASA mission managers will meet today to discuss plans to fix a potentially dangerous hydrogen gas leak on the space shuttle Endeavour’s launch pad in order to try again to launch the spacecraft’s STS-127 mission. The meeting will begin at 2:00 p.m. EDT (1900 GMT) today and NASA plans to brief the media and public later in the day after it concludes.

Endeavour was hours from launch early Saturday when NASA scrubbed its attempted liftoff due to the gas leak. The shuttle could try again as early as Wednesday, but NASA also plans to launch two new lunar probes to the moon that day atop an unmanned rocket launching from the nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station.

Endeavour is slated to launch on a 16-day mission to the International Space Station to deliver a Japanese-built porch for the outpost’s Kibo lab.

Click here for SPACE.com’s launch delay story.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Shuttle Launch Delayed Over Gaseous Hydrogen Leak
13 June 2009 12:22 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – A gaseous hydrogen leak was discovered on the space shuttle Endeavour while its external tank was fueling, prompting NASA to cancel today's launch plans.

The glitch is similar to an issue that thwarted the space shuttle Discovery's STS-119 launch in March, though that issue was eventually fixed and the shuttle launched successfully.

Endeavour had planned to launch today at 7:17 a.m. EDT (1117 GMT) toward the International Space Station to deliver a new experiment porch for the space station’s Japanese Kibo lab.

Click here for SPACE.com’s launch preview story or watch a video overview of the mission.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Space Shuttle Begins Fueling
12 June 2009 9:52 p.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - Ground crews began fueling the space shuttle Endeavour's giant orange external tank with its liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen fuel today at 9:52 p.m. EDT (0152 GMT).

The shuttle is set to launch Saturday at 7:17 a.m. EDT (1117 GMT) toward the International Space Station to deliver a new experiment porch for the space station’s Japanese Kibo lab.

Click here for SPACE.com’s launch preview story or watch a video overview of the mission.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Shuttle Endeavour Primed for Fueling
12 June 2009 6:00 p.m. EDT

The stage is set for NASA’s planned launch of the shuttle Endeavour toward the International Space Station, with fueling operations slated to begin around 9:52 p.m. EDT (0152 GMT on Saturday. Endeavour is slated to blast off at 7:17 a.m. EDT (1117 GMT) Saturday morning to deliver a new experiment porch for the space station’s Japanese Kibo lab.

Click here for SPACE.com’s launch preview story or watch a video overview of the mission.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


NASA to Reveal Shuttle Endeavour for Launch
12 June 2009 10:40 a.m. EDT

With launch less than a day away, the space shuttle Endeavour is about to be unveiled for blast off. Shuttle technicians will begin retracting the shell-like Rotating Service Structure that has protected the spacecraft from weather at Launch Pad 39A of NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Endeavour is poised to launch at 7:17 a.m. EDT (1117 GMT) on a 16-day mission to the International Space Station to deliver a new external porch for the station’s Japanese Kibo lab. The shuttle’s seven astronauts are on an extremely skewed schedule for the overnight mission and will go to sleep today at 12:15 p.m. EDT (1615 GMT) to rest up for tomorrow’s planned space shot.

Click here to watch a video on the shuttle’s STS-127 crew.

-- Tariq Malik

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Shuttle Endeavour Is Readied For Launch
11 June 2009 10:25 a.m. EDT

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Crews began to load Endeavour's three fuel cells with liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen today to prepare the space shuttle for its planned launch Saturday at 7:17 a.m. EDT (1117 GMT) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center here.

The shuttle is scheduled for a 16-day mission to deliver a porch-like experiment platform for the station’s Japanese Kibo lab and other gear to the International Space Station.

Endeavour's seven member crew is sleeping in today to prepare for their nocturnal mission schedule. They are due to wake up this evening at 8:15 p.m. EDT (2415 GMT). Once they are up, mission specialists Christopher Cassidy and Julie Payette plan to conduct practice flights in T-38 training jets.

The weather forecast for Saturday is promising, with a 90 percent chance of favorable launch conditions at liftoff.

-- Clara Moskowitz

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Launch Countdown Begins for Shuttle Mission
10 June 2009 10:30 a.m. EDT

The clock is counting down toward the planned Saturday morning launch of the space shuttle Endeavour on a planned 16-day mission to the International Space Station. The weather forecast has improved to a pristine 90 percent chance of favorable launch conditions at liftoff.

The countdown began on time early Wednesday at 9:00 a.m. EDT. Endeavour is set to launch at 7:17 a.m. EDT (1117 GMT) on Saturday to deliver a porch-like experiment platform for the station’s Japanese Kibo lab and other gear. Five spacewalks are planned by Endeavour’s seven-astronaut crew.

"The teams here at Kennedy Space Center have been working extremely hard to try to get to this point," said NASA Test Director Steve Payne during a televised morning status briefing. "But it's paid off, and we have a vehicle poised at the pad that's ready to go."

-- Tariq Malik

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.


Endeavour Astronauts Arrive at Florida Launch Site
9 June 2009 11:34 a.m. EDT

The seven astronauts of the space shuttle Endeavour arrived at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center launch site in Cape Canaveral, Fla., early Tuesday for a planned Saturday morning launch to the International Space Station. Endeavour is slated to launch on Saturday morning at 7:17 a.m. EDT (1117 GMT) on a 16-day construction flight.

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be down here in preparation for Saturday's launch of Endeavour,” shuttle commander Mark Polansky said after his crew arrived just after midnight this morning.

The crew is shifting its sleep pattern because of its odd mission schedule.

"Thank you for taking the time to come and see us at this ungodly hour," Canadian astronaut Julie Payette told reporters on the tarmac. "This represents, of course, one of those flights where we have to shift in a completely different time zone in order to synch up with the space station. For that, we become a bit of a stealth flight."

-- Tariq Malik

NASA will broadcast Endeavour’s STS-127 mission to the International Space Station live on NASA TV. Click here for SPACE.com’s NASA TV feed or follow the NASA TV link at the upper left on this page.

 


Click here for STS-125 Hubble Space Telescope mission updates.

 

 

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NASA Hopes to Launch Shuttle Endeavour on Wednesday
Gas Leak Thwarts Space Shuttle Launch
Launching Saturday: Shuttle Endeavour Headed for Space Station
Space Station Headed for Population Explosion
Shuttle Endeavour Cleared for Saturday Launch
Japanese Space Porch to Fly on Shuttle Endeavour
Weather Looks Pristine for Saturday Shuttle Launch
Shuttle Endeavour on Track for Saturday Launch
Astronauts Gear Up for Space Construction Marathon
NASA Targets June 13 Launch for Shuttle Endeavour
Atlantis Returns Home in Dramatic Fashion
Shuttle Atlantis Gets Piggyback Ride Home
NASA Postpones Return Home for Shuttle Atlantis
Space Shuttle Atlantis May Begin Trek Home on Sunday
NASA: Next Space Shuttle Launch May Be Delayed
Shuttle Endeavour Moves to Launch Pad for June Mission
Scientists Call Hubble a 'Whole New Telescope' After Repairs
Shuttle Atlantis Lands Safely After Hubble Success
Mission Atlantis: The Final Shuttle Flight to Save Hubble

New Video - Canada in Space
Canadian astronaut Julie Payette discusses her role on NASA's STS-127 mission to the ISS. Credit: CSA > Launch
New Video - Space Station to Get Japanese Porch
Learn all about the STS-127 mission to deliver a new porch for Japan’s Kibo lab at the ISS. Credit: NASA > Launch
New Video - Meet the STS-127 Astronauts
New Video Show - Hubble's Final Shuttle Service Call
Video Show - The ISS: Foothold on Forever
SPACE.com's Space Shuttle Multimedia Home
SPACE.com's International Space Station Expedition Coverage

 

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