Space Shuttle Endeavour's Launch Scheduled for April 29th

Endeavour crew rehearsal
Image credit NASA

NASA has set a new date and time of 3:47 p.m. EDT on Friday, April 29 for the launch of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission.  The delay means that there is no longer a timing conflict with the Russian Progress supply vehicle which is planned for launch on April 27 to arrive at the International Space Station April 29.

NASA managers will hold a Flight Readiness Review on Tuesday, April 19, to assess the team's readiness to support launch. An official launch date will be selected at the conclusion of the meeting.

Minor storm damage to Space Shuttle Endeavour

Severe storms that hit Kennedy Space Centre on Wednesday and Thursday last week inflicted minor damage to space shuttle Endeavour's external fuel tank foam.  This was found during detailed inspections Saturday by technicians and engineers on Launch Pad 39A.

Final flight for Space Shuttle Endeavour

Shuttle mission STS-134 is the final flight for Endeavour and the second to last flight for the Space Shuttle Program. The 14 day mission will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS) to the International Space Station. AMS, a particle physics detector, is designed to search for unusual matter by measuring cosmic rays.

Endeavour also will carry the Express Logistics Carrier 3 (ELC-3), a platform that carries spare parts that will sustain space station operations once the shuttles are retired from service. The mission will include four spacewalks to do maintenance work and install new components. These are the very last scheduled space walks by shuttle crew members.