BEIJING, March 11 (Xinhuanet) -- Space shuttle
Endeavour was poised for a rare nighttime liftoff Tuesday from the Kennedy Space
Center to the international space station, U.S. media reported.
Technicians at the center began fueling the shuttle
late Monday afternoon with more than 500,000 gallons (1.9 million liters) of
supercold liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen for the 2:28 a.m. EDT blast off as
there were no major problems reported.
It will be the first shuttle launch in darkness since
2006. Only a quarter of all shuttles have been launched at nighttime.
The shuttle, with a 16-day mission, will carry one of
the three Japanese modules to the space station to install Japanese lab "Kibo,"
a Japanese word for "hope."
Endeavour, which flew its first mission in 1992, is
the newest of NASA's three remaining space shuttles. The new mission will be the
longest planned visit to date by a shuttle to the orbital outpost.
(Agencies)
Endeavour to lift off Tuesday with Japanese
module
 |
|
The space shuttle Endeavour returns to
the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida Aug. 21, 2007.
(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo
Gallery>>> |
BEIJING, March 10 (Xinhuanet) -- The space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled for
launch early Tuesday to carry the first of three modules that will become
Japan's orbiting laboratory in the International Space Station, according to
media reports Monday.
Liftoff from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida is
scheduled for 2:28 a.m. EDT.
The mission marks a fresh chapter in Japan's human
spaceflight effort. Full story
Space shuttle Endeavour to launch on
March 11
 |
|
The crew of the space shuttle Endeavour
STS-123 (L to R) commander Dominic Gorie, mission specialist Garrett
Reisman, pilot Gregory H. Johnson, mission specialist's Robert Behnken,
Mike Foreman, Takao Doi of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Rick
Linnehan assemble for a photo near launch pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center
in Cape Canaveral, Florida Feb. 24, 2008.(Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Photo Gallery>>>
|
BEIJING, March 2 (Xinhuanet) -- NASA confirmed the U.S.
space shuttle Endeavour will launch on March 11 for a 16-day mission, according
to media reports Sunday.
The NASA mission management on Friday confirmed the
official launch time of the Endeavour. On March 11 at 2:28 a.m. EDT, the space
shuttle will be launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Full story
