Space Shuttle Endeavour Ready for Final Launch Monday

With only a few days remaining in the countdown, the final launch for Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-134 is looking good for launch. Liftoff is scheduled for 8:56 AM EDT on Monday May 16th.

In preparation for the launch, teams at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida continue with final checks on space shuttle Endeavour. According to NASA Test Director Jeff Spaulding, everything is going on schedule as of this morning.

“I’m really proud of our teams working so hard over the last couple of weeks,” said Spaulding. “All the teams here at Kennedy and all the other centers have done an outstanding job to get us ready for this launch on this historic and final flight of space shuttle Endeavour.”

Weather, which is often a limiting factor this time of year for launches in Florida, does not appear to be a worry. Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters reported that the current forecast calls for a 70 percent chance of acceptable conditions a launch time.

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.

Endeavour’s 16-day mission will carry the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) and spare parts to the International Space Station. The parts will include two S-band communications antennas, a high-pressure gas tank and additional spare parts for Dextre, the new on-board robot on the ISS.