Final Night-Launched Shuttle at the Pad

January 8, 2010 — Space shuttle Endeavour completed its 3.4-mile journey to Launch Pad 39A this Wednesday, and set into motion preparations for the shuttle’s last night launch before retirement. Endeavour's February 7 target liftoff is at 4:39 a.m. On top of the crawler-transporter, Endeavour left Kennedy’s Vehicle Assembly Building at 4:13 a.m. January 6, traveling less than 1 mph toward the launch pad. It arrived at 8:45 a.m., and was secured on the pad at 10:37 a.m. The Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, or TCDT, is scheduled to occur at Kennedy Space Center from January 19-21. The rehearsal provides each shuttle crew with an opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency training. The six astronauts for Endeavour's STS-130 mission will deliver a third connecting module, the Tranquility node, to the International Space Station, as well as a seven-windowed Cupola module, which will be used as a control room for robotics. The mission will include three spacewalks. Commander George Zamka will lead the STS-130 mission. Terry Virts, who will make his first trip to space, will serve as the pilot. Mission specialists are Nicholas Patrick, Robert Behnken, Stephen Robinson and Kathryn Hire.

Space shuttle Endeavour atop the crawler transporter nears Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo credit: NASA TV From left, Mission Specialist Nicholas Patrick, Pilot Terry Virts, Mission Specialists Robert Behnken and Kathryn Hire, Commander George Zamka and Mission Specialist Stephen Robinson. Image credit: NASA

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