Space Shuttle Blasts
Off To Space
The
space shuttle, Endeavour, has bolted off its seaside launch pad
on Monday, on a voyage to install the last two main pieces of
the International Space Station.
Low clouds forced NASA to postpone Endeavour's first launch
attempt on Sunday morning.
The shuttle carries the station's last connecting hub and a
dome-shaped cupola with seven windows to provide the crew with
panoramic views outside the station.
The modules were built in Italy for NASA and will complete U.S.
assembly of the orbital outpost, a 100-billion dollars
project of 16 nations that has been under construction
since 1998.
Four more shuttle missions remain to deliver cargo platforms,
spare parts and experiments before the fleet is retired later
this year.
The Endeavour crew includes, Commander George Zamka, pilot Terry
Virts, flight engineer Stephen Robinson, spacewalkers Robert
Behnken and Nicholas Patrick and mission specialist Kay Hire.
The shuttle is scheduled to reach the station on Wednesday for a
nine-day stay.
NAN/Yinka
