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Science and Health

NASA to launch space shuttle Endeavour on Feb. 7

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-28 15:34

WASHINGTON: US space shuttle Endeavour is targeted to begin a 13-day flight to the International Space Station with a Feb. 7 launch from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA said Wednesday.

The date was announced Wednesday at the conclusion of a flight readiness review at Kennedy Space Center, with the liftoff planned for 4:39 am EST (0939 GMT).

During the meeting, senior NASA and contractor managers assessed the risks associated with the mission and determined the shuttle's equipment, support systems and procedures are ready.

The flight will begin the final year of Endeavour operations. Five shuttle missions are planned in 2010, with the last flight currently targeted for launch in September.

NASA plans to concentrate on the next spaceflight program, which has yet to be defined by US President Barack Obama.

Endeavour's mission, carrying six astronauts, will include three spacewalks and the delivery of the Tranquility node, the final module of the US portion of the space station.

Tranquility will provide additional room for crew members and many of the space station's life support and environmental control systems.

Attached to the node is a cupola, which houses a robotic control station and has seven windows to provide a panoramic view of Earth, celestial objects and visiting spacecraft. After the node and cupola are added, the orbiting laboratory will be about 90 percent complete.