Endeavour's final flight to the International Space Station

[tristen]

Courtesy Space Daily at

SHUTTLE NEWS
It's A "Go" For Endeavour's Launch On April 29
by Staff Writers
Cape Canaveral FL (SPX) Apr 20, 2011

NASA managers announced that space shuttle Endeavour is ready to launch next week on its final flight to the International Space Station following a daylong Flight Readiness Review on Tuesday. Endeavour is scheduled to launch Friday, April 29, at 3:47 p.m. EDT.


Launch sign at Kennedy Space Center counts down the
days to the STS-134 launch of shuttle Endeavour.
Photo credit: NASA/KSC.

"We have had a very extensive and thorough review," said Bill Gerstenmaier, NASA's associate administrator for Space Operations. "I think the things that impressed me the most is that the team is still continuing to really work issues and look at the vehicle performance on each and every flight just like they would during any normal mission."

"We're ready to go fly," Gerstenmaier said.

All analysis and inspections of External Fuel Tank-122 confirmed its integrity after repairs were made because of damage sustained during Hurricane Katrina, according to Gerstenmaier.

"It was a really good review from both the station and shuttle prospective," said Mike Moses, chairman of the Mission Management Team. "Endeavour and the team are in great shape."

Endeavour is poised on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The countdown is to begin Tuesday at 2 p.m.

"The final processing flow for Endeavour is going extremely well out at the pad," said Mike Leinbach, shuttle launch director. "I'm very proud of the team and we'll going to have a good launch and a good mission."

The STS-134 crew is scheduled to arrive at Kennedy on Tuesday, April 26, for final launch preparations.

The crew members for space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission are Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Gregory H. Johnson and Mission Specialists Michael Fincke, Greg Chamitoff, Andrew Feustel and European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori.

During the 14-day mission, Endeavour will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) and spare parts including two S-band communications antennas, a high-pressure gas tank, additional spare parts for Dextre.

[LeroyPatrol]

Just a side note, that flag on the Vehicle Assembly Building (I think that's what they called it) is 21 storeys tall so it gives you an idea of the size. I think it was 4.5 Empire state buildings in volume.
The Shuttle only uses half the height but the full heigh was used for the saturn 5 rockets.

Leroy