Space Shuttle Endeavour is ready to launch

Pictured clockwise in the STS-134 crew astronauts Mark Kelly (bottom center), commander; Gregory H. Johnson, pilot; Michael Fincke, Greg Chamitoff, Andrew Feustel and European Space Agency’s Roberto Vittori,  Image credit: NASA 

NASA has confirmed that the Space Shuttle Endeavour is ready to launch next week on its final flight to the International Space Station.  Endeavour is scheduled to launch on Friday April 29^th at 3:47 p.m. EDT.

There were previously concerns that the launch could be delayed because the external fuel tank had been damaged by Hurricane Katrina but repairs and inspections have now been successfully completed.

Endeavour is now ready on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida and the countdown will begin on Tuesday at 2 p.m.

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

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