The space shuttle Endeavour's STS-127 mission could use someluck from its mascot.
NASA has tried twice to launch the shuttle but both times wasthwarted by a gas leak; Endeavour is now grounded until July 11 at theearliest.
Perhaps that help will come from their new mascot: analligator.
The astronauts were riding in their silver Astrovan atFlorida's Kennedy Space Center June 2 when an alligator strolled along the roadin front of them.
The toothy creature took its time walking across the SaturnCauseway ? a main road that runs through NASA's Cape Canaveral base. After itambled past the spaceflyers, the alligator headed for the woods near the road.
The seven astronauts of the space shuttle Endeavour's STS-127mission waited for the 'gator to pass before proceeding down the road toLaunch Pad 39A, where they were scheduled to rehearse liftoff procedures duringa terminal countdown demonstration test.
They were so taken by the alligator's appearance that thecrew agreed to adopt the creature as its mascot.
Alligators are common around the space center in drainagecanals and other waters. Sometimes they venture out to the roads in search ofnew scenery or mates.
The center shares a boundary with the Merritt IslandWildlife Nature Refuge, which is a habitat for more than 310 species of birds,25 mammals, 117 fishes and 65 amphibians and reptiles.
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