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Endeavour launches without hitch

Posted Monday, November 17, 2008

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Moon Over Endeavour - Above Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the full moon hovers over space shuttle Endeavour waiting for liftoff on the STS-126 mission. Image courtesy NASA/Bill Ingalls.

Space shuttle Endeavour roared off Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center Friday at 6:55 p.m. CST, amid a spectacular tower of smoke and flames.

The STS-126 mission is an extremely ambitious undertaking, highlighting four spacewalks and delivering the heaviest payload in shuttle history.

NASA astronaut Chris Ferguson commands the seven-member crew, which includes Pilot Eric Boe, Mission Specialists Donald Pettit, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Steve Bowen, Shane Kimbrough and Sandra Magnus.

Boe, Bowen and Kimbrough will be making their first spaceflight.

Expedition 17/18 Flight Engineer Gregory Chamitoff will return to Earth with the Endeavour crew and Magnus will take Chamitoff's place on the International Space Station.

In Endeavour's payload bay, the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo is packed full of about 14,500 pounds of equipment and supplies, making it one of the heaviest modules in shuttle history.

Also included in the payload are additional sleeping quarters, a second toilet, an exercise device and other household-type equipment.

The prime objective of the 15-day mission is to prepare the International Space Station to accommodate six members for long-duration stays.

Four planned spacewalks will focus on servicing the station's two Solar Alpha Rotary Joints, or SARJ, which are needed to track the sun for electric power.

Endeavour and its crew are set to land at NASA's Kennedy Space Center after more than two weeks in space.

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