Katherine Trinidad
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
katherine.trinidad@nasa.gov
Candrea Thomas
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
candrea.k.thomas@nasa.gov
RELEASE: 08-294
NASA'S SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR LAUNCHES ON HOME IMPROVEMENT MISSION
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- Space shuttle Endeavour and its seven-member
crew lifted off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 7:55 p.m. EST
Friday to repair and remodel the International Space Station.
Endeavour's STS-126 mission will carry to space about 32,000 pounds,
which includes supplies and equipment necessary to double the crew
size from three to six members in spring 2009. The new station cargo
includes additional sleeping quarters, a second toilet, a water
reclamation system and a resistance exercise device.
The mission's four planned spacewalks primarily will focus on
servicing the station's two Solar Alpha Rotary Joints, which allow
the outpost's solar arrays to track the sun. The starboard SARJ has
had limited use since September 2007.
Shortly before launch, Commander Chris Ferguson thanked the teams that
helped make the launch possible.
"It's our turn to take home improvement to a new level after 10 years
of International Space Station construction," he said. "Endeavour is
good to go."
Joining Ferguson on Endeavour's 15-day flight are Pilot Eric Boe and
Mission Specialists Donald Pettit, Steve Bowen, Heidemarie
Stefanyshyn-Piper, Shane Kimbrough and Sandra Magnus. Magnus will
replace current station crew member Greg Chamitoff, who has lived on
the outpost since June. She will return to Earth on Discovery's
STS-119 mission, targeted for February 2009.
NASA is providing continuous television and Internet coverage of
Endeavour's mission, which is the 124th shuttle flight, the 22nd for
Endeavour and the 27th shuttle mission to the station. NASA
Television features live mission events, daily mission status news
conferences and 24-hour commentary. NASA TV is webcast at:
NASA's Web coverage of STS-126 includes current mission information,
interactive features, news conference images, graphics and videos.
Mission coverage, including the latest NASA TV schedule, also is
available on the main space shuttle Web site at:
Daily news conferences with STS-126 mission managers will take place
at NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston. During normal business hours
of 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST Monday through Friday, reporters may ask
questions from participating NASA locations. Please contact your
preferred NASA facility by its daily close of business to confirm its
availability before each event.
On Monday, Nov. 17, the mission status briefing at 3:30 p.m. EST will
include NASA's International Space Station Program Manager Mike
Suffredini. He will discuss the station's upcoming 10th anniversary.
The station's first element, the Zarya module, was launched on Nov.
20, 1998. The briefing will originate from Johnson. NASA Television's
Video File will broadcast highlights from the station's past 10
years, beginning at 10 a.m. on Nov. 17.
For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and schedule information, visit:
Johnson will operate a telephone bridge for media briefings that occur
outside of normal business hours. To be eligible to use this service,
reporters must possess a valid media credential issued by a NASA
center or for the STS-126 mission. Media planning to use the service
must contact the Johnson newsroom at 281-483-5111 no later than 15
minutes prior to the start of a briefing in which they wish to
participate. Newsroom personnel will verify their credentials and
transfer them to the phone bridge. The capacity of the phone bridge
is limited and will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
For information about the International Space Station, visit:
-end-
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