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Shuttle Blasts Off on Last Night Flight

Endeavour headed for construction work at space station

By Jane Yager,  Newser Staff

Posted Feb 8, 2010 4:44 AM CST
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(Newser) – The shuttle Endeavour lifted off early this morning from Cape Canaveral in what will likely be the last nighttime launch of the soon-to-end space shuttle program. The six astronauts on board are hauling a new room and observation deck up to the International Space Station, where they are set to arrive early Wednesday, AP reports.

In the last major construction job for the space station, the Endeavour crew will install a room to house life-support equipment, exercise machines, a toilet, and a seven-windowed cupola with the biggest window ever sent into space: a circle 31 inches in diameter. Four more shuttle flights to the station are planned for later this year—in March, May, July and September—and all are scheduled to depart during daylight.

The astronauts of space shuttle Endeavour, clockwise from front left, commander George Zamka, Kay Hire, Nicholas Patrick, Bob Behnken, Steve Robinson and pilot Terry Virts, Feb. 8, 2010.
The astronauts of space shuttle Endeavour, clockwise from front left, commander George Zamka, Kay Hire, Nicholas Patrick, Bob Behnken, Steve Robinson and pilot Terry Virts, Feb. 8, 2010.   (AP Photo/John Raoux)
Space Shuttle Endeavour lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Fla.
Space Shuttle Endeavour lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center, Cape Canaveral, Fla.   (AP Photo/Terry Renna)
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COMMENTS
Showing 2 of 2 comments
M Kline
Feb 19, 2010 9:25 PM CST
Yea, me too. Oh well...that was probably the last one. :(
blues_junky
Feb 8, 2010 10:06 AM CST
Always wanted to see a night time launch in person. That has to be spectacular.....

 
NASA • astronauts • space shuttle • International Space Station • Endeavour • space program • Space Shuttle Endeavour • space shuttle launch

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