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.
