Endeavour lifts off
Posted: Fri, Nov 14, 2008, 8:54 PM ET (0154 GMT)
The space shuttle Endeavour launched Friday evening on a mission to the International Space Station. Endeavour lifted off on schedule at 7:55 pm EDT Friday (0055 GMT Saturday) and entered orbit eight minutes later. The countdown was trouble-free other than a brief concern late in the countdown about a door on the gantry arm that was not properly latched, but shuttle managers determined the unlatched door did not pose a constraint to launch. Endeavour is scheduled to dock with the station on Sunday. The purpose of the STS-126 mission is to deliver equipment to the station that will allow it to support six-person crews. The mission will also include four spacewalks to service the station's two Solar Alpha Rotary Joints that allow the station's solar panels to track the sun; one of two SARJs has experienced problems over the last year. The STS-126 crew includes astronaut Sandra Magnus, who will remain on the station, taking the place of current ISS astronaut Greg Chamitoff.
The space shuttle Endeavour launched Friday evening on a mission to the International Space Station. Endeavour lifted off on schedule at 7:55 pm EDT Friday (0055 GMT Saturday) and entered orbit eight minutes later. The countdown was trouble-free other than a brief concern late in the countdown about a door on the gantry arm that was not properly latched, but shuttle managers determined the unlatched door did not pose a constraint to launch. Endeavour is scheduled to dock with the station on Sunday. The purpose of the STS-126 mission is to deliver equipment to the station that will allow it to support six-person crews. The mission will also include four spacewalks to service the station's two Solar Alpha Rotary Joints that allow the station's solar panels to track the sun; one of two SARJs has experienced problems over the last year. The STS-126 crew includes astronaut Sandra Magnus, who will remain on the station, taking the place of current ISS astronaut Greg Chamitoff.| <<previous article | next article>> |
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