Endeavour Has Patiently Waited for This

Posted by Michael Pinto on Jul 16, 2009 in Science |

Space shuttle Endeavour and its seven-member crew launched at 6:03 p.m. EDT Wednesday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The mission will deliver the final segment to the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory and a new crew member to the International Space Station.

After several days of waiting Endeavour took off last night for the International Space Station. Part of me loves it anytime a spacecraft takes off and especially when it’s a safe and smooth launch — but another part of me regrets that it’s the year 2009 and NASA is still stuck with a vehicle that was designed in the 70s. But my hat is off to Commander Mark Polansky for a safe trip and return.

Endeavour’s mission should be an interesting one over the next two weeks: We’ll get to see five spacewalks and the installation of two platforms outside the International Space Station. The first addition to the space station will allow experiments to be directly exposed to space and the later is an experimental storage pallet that will be detached and will return home with the shuttle.

Commander Mark L. Polansky of the STS-127 Mission

Above: Born June 2, 1956 in Paterson, New Jersey Mark L. Polansky will command the shuttle Endeavour for STS-127. Polansky joined NASA in August 1992, as an aerospace engineer and research pilot.

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