Forum Views ()
Forum Replies ()
Read more with google mobile :
US shuttle Endeavour blasts off for space station
Yahoo!
My Yahoo!
Mail
More Yahoo! Services
Account Options
New User? Sign Up
Sign In
Help
Yahoo! Search
web search
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Africa
Europe
Latin America
Middle East
North America
US shuttle Endeavour blasts off for space station
AFP - Tuesday, February 9
Send
IM Story
Print
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida (AFP) - – The US space shuttle Endeavour and its crew of six astronauts blasted off Monday and headed for the International Space Station to deliver a module dubbed Tranquility.
The picture-perfect nighttime lift-off came at 4:14 am (0914 GMT), after a 24-hour delay caused by heavy cloud cover over Cape Canaveral early Sunday.
The spacecraft successfully reached orbit about eight and a half minutes later.
"We wish you good luck and Godspeed, and see you in about two weeks," launch director Mike Leinbach told the crew shortly before lift-off.
Endeavour Commander George Zamka thanked the teams who worked to make the shuttle mission possible.
"See you in a couple of weeks. It's time to go to fly," he responded.
The mission comes as NASA begins to reevaluate its future after President Barack Obama effectively abandoned the US space agency's plan to send astronauts back to the moon by 2020.
The Constellation program was intended to develop a successor spacecraft to the shuttle, which could be used to carry astronauts to the moon where they would use a lunar base to launch manned missions to Mars.
Constrained by soaring budget deficits, Obama submitted a budget to Congress that encourages the agency to instead focus on developing commercial transport alternatives to ferry astronauts to the ISS after the shuttle program ends.
There are just five missions scheduled for NASA's three shuttles before the program is scheduled to wind down later this year. The first shuttle launch was in 1981.
The Endeavour mission's main goal is the delivery of the Tranquility module, also known as Node 3, which comes with a multi-window cupola attached.
The cupola, built for NASA by the European group Thales Alenia Space in their Turin factory, will allow for panoramic views of Earth, space objects and spacecraft arriving at the ISS, the US space agency said.
With Endeavour's delivery of Tranquility and its attached cupola, the International Space Station will be 90 percent complete, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration said.
Tranquility, which weighs 18 tonnes, is seven meters long and has a 4.5-meter (15-foot) diameter, while the cupola dome weighs 1.9 tonnes, and measures 1.5 meters with a 2.9 meter diameter.
Installing the module is expected to require a team of two astronauts to undertake three spacewalks lasting 6.5 hours each.
Tranquility, named after the lunar sea where Apollo 11 landed, has the most sophisticated life support system ever flown into space.
It has air revitalization, oxygen generation and water recycling systems and also contains a waste and hygiene compartment for the crew.
The cupola attached to Tranquility boasts six windows arrayed along its sides as well as a central window -- all built with protection against the impact of tiny meteorites -- that will offer an unprecedented panoramic view for those onboard.
But the cupola will also serve an important work function, accommodating two crew members at a time, and is equipped with portable workstations that can control station and robotic activities.
The view will allow the crew to monitor spacewalks and docking operations, NASA said.
The ISS, a joint project involving 16 countries, has cost around 100 billion dollars, mostly provided by the United States.
Under Obama's new budget, the floating research station could see its life extended by five years until 2020.
Meanwhile, NASA will work on sponsoring commercial development of new US spacecraft that can ferry astronauts to the ISS after the shuttle program ends.
Astronauts will have access to Russia's Soyuz craft for transport to the station, but the US space agency will be called upon to help a US private sector alternative.
Recommend
Send
IM Story
Print
Related Articles
Yanukovich, monitors, press Ukraine PM to concede Reuters - 1 hour 3 minutes ago
Muslim man wins handshake case in Sweden AP - 1 hour 10 minutes ago
Frightened Afghans flee offensive in opium valley AFP - 1 hour 13 minutes ago
Official: About 5 unaccounted for after CT blast AP - 1 hour 22 minutes ago
Palestinian municipal elections set for July 17 AP - 1 hour 27 minutes ago
News Search
Top Stories
Saints go marching in with Super Bowl win over Colts
Geithner confident investors will stick by US bonds
Poor weather delays US shuttle launch
Britain's Mandelson attacks EU on banking reform
US shuttle Endeavour launch delayed
More Top Stories »
ADVERTISEMENT
Most Popular
Most Viewed
Most Recommended
G7 preoccupied with eurozone debt, China 'bubble'
JPMorgan's chief reaps 16-million-dollar bonus
Jackson doctor to be charged Monday: prosecutors
Saints go marching in with Super Bowl win over Colts
Geithner confident investors will stick by US bonds
More Most Viewed »
Fury heats up after new AIG bonuses
More Most Recommended »
Elsewhere on Yahoo!
Financial news on Yahoo! Finance
Stars and latest movies
Best travel destinations
More on Yahoo! News
Home
Singapore
Asia Pacific
World
Business
Entertainment
Sports
Technology
Subscribe to our news feeds
Top StoriesMy Yahoo!RSS
» More news feeds | What are news feeds?
Also on Yahoo
Answers
Groups
Mail
Messenger
Mobile
Travel
Finance
Movies
Sports
Games
» All Yahoo! Services
Site Highlights
Singapore
Full Coverage
Most Popular
Asia Entertainment
Photos
Copyright © 2010 Yahoo! Southeast Asia Pte. Ltd. (Co. Reg. No. 199700735D). All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Service |
Privacy Policy |
Community |
Intellectual Property Rights Policy |
Help
Other News on Monday, 8 February 2010 Actor in Israel's Oscar nominated movie detained
Geithner confident investors will stick by US bonds
Lebanon recovers crashed Ethiopian jet's black box
Taliban, NATO prepare for big Helmand offensive
|
Afghan assault to send 'strong signal': McChrystal
Iran tests radar-evading aircraft says commander
|
Iraq delays parliament debate on candidates row
Ukraine Tymoshenko's team cries foul before polls close
|
Israeli forces arrest two foreigners in West Bank
Afghan leader eyes return to conscript army
Iran leader orders new step in nuclear program
NATO chief seeks broader ties with China, India
An engineering marvel takes shape near Hoover Dam
Fifth victim identified in fatal RI fire
Officials: Some die in Conn. power plant explosion
Battle to electrify Kandahar shows Afghan dilemma
Researchers target whales in herring loss study
Hundreds flee south Afghan town ahead of offensive
Gibbons to deliver emergency State of State
Pakistanis doubt Taliban chiefs in Baluchistan
Al-Qaeda threat to US greater than Iran: Clinton
Afghanistan's NATO head: Military push needs gov't
US faces `serious and significant' cyberthreats
China 'jails porn website operator for 13 years'
Obama adviser: Stop criticizing anti-terror effort
Pakistani military seizes Taliban stronghold in NW
Authorities: 2 planes collide in Colorado; 3 die
India flight delayed after tip alleges terror
Obama adviser confident in Super Bowl security
Sri Lanka army denies plan to arrest former chief
Television executive shot to death in Nepal
Toyota loses some luster in hometown over recalls
Avatar loses box office crown to Dear John
|
US-ENTERTAINMENT Summary
"Avatar" dethroned at box office by "Dear John"
'Dear John' bumps 'Avatar' with $32.4M debut
Rihanna's celebrates, BEPs party late
Florez and his 9 high C's return to Met Opera
All eyes on Ellen in "American Idol" judge debut
Iraq MPs to meet over 'Saddam' candidates row
ETA seeking to move bomb-making to Portugal: Madrid
China shuts down largest hacker training website
Opposition's Yanukovich claims win in Ukraine poll
|
Saints go marching in with Super Bowl win over Colts
Defiant Iran set to begin higher enrichment of uranium
French police evacuate migrants' shelter
China seizes more melamine-tainted milk powder
|
PayPal temporarily suspends some India services
Yanukovich set to win Ukraine presidency: exit polls
Iran ratchets up atom work despite sanctions threat
US faces 'serious' cyberspace threats: advisor
Haiti protesters denounce aid corruption, hoarding
|
Israeli forces detain pro-Palestinian activists
Internet down in Iran ahead of demos
Argentine ex-Pres Kirchner has emergency surgery
|
Iran leader orders new step in nuclear program
Iran plans 10 new enrichment plants in 2010/11
|
Envoys go to North Korea for nuclear talks push
|
Costa Rica elects Chinchilla first woman president
|
High-profile U.S. case tests Haitian justice system
|
Iran tests radar-evading aircraft
NASA fuels space shuttle 2nd time, clouds back
NKorea threatens South amid push to restart talks
CIT names ex-Merrill CEO Thain as chairman, CEO
Activists want fair trial in Japan whaling case
China finds 170 more tons of tainted milk powder
CAPITAL CULTURE: First lady tackling child obesity
IBM begins Power server upgrade to battle HP, Sun
|
Taiwan firm on China ties after US arms deal
Cops attack homegrown gang in Calif heartland
NetEase suspends new user registration for hit game
|
Obama hasn't ruled out NY trial for 9/11 planner
Cowboy theme at American base in Afghanistan
China shuts down largest hacker training website
|
NY Gov. Paterson meets with lawmakers over future
Amazon reshelves Macmillan titles but not e-books
|
Obama in Super Bowl health care gambit
Singapore rite looks painful, yet smiles abound
Malaysia: Anwar wants sodomy trial judge removed
'Historic' snow strands countless in Mid-Atlantic
Weather forecast for the Asia-Pacific region
AP NewsAlert
2,000 hit by Papua cholera outbreak: WHO
Eight Vietnamese reported drowned
Kirin, Suntory scrap plans to combine
Pakistan stocks up; volume low after Friday bombs
Disgraced Lee returns to Olympics fold
JAL to stay with American Airlines: reports
PAKISTAN
Japan's Kirin terminates merger talks with Suntory
Seoul shares close lower on banks, Kumho issues
S.Korea KDIC to offer shares in Korea Life via IPO
Taiwan dollar rebounds sharply
S.Korea bonds steady ahead of auctions
South Africans celebrate Mandela, worry about future
Townshend, Daltrey are still The Who at Super Bowl
NBC considers lifting Emmys tape delay
Daughtry brings Saints, Colts fans together
The Who perform hits medley at Super Bowl halftime
|
"Valentine's Day" a date to forget
Cockfighting survives Haiti's earthquake devastation
France vaunts '40 virtues' of Armagnac
Private schools sprout in Zimbabwe as public system struggles
'Dear John' dethrones box office king 'Avatar'
Valentine's Day a date to forget
|
Iran plans major nuclear expansion over next year
|
Riding green wave, Philips says "let there be LED"
NetEase suspends new user registration for hit game
Iran plans major nuclear expansion over next year
U.S. and EU fear fresh government crackdown in Iran
|
Iran's leader vows to thwart protests this week
Yemen's al Qaeda calls for jihad in region: report
|
Israeli police raid Palestinian refugee camp
|
Saudi rights commission seeks divorce for child bride
Fifteen Indian soldiers killed in Kashmir avalanche
|
Iran launches production lines for unmanned planes
Taliban defiant as Afghans flee ahead of assault
China patents surge in 2009 as U.S. filings plunge
|
Iran plans 10 new enrichment plants in 2010/11
UK Afghan death toll matches Falklands loss
|
Barnes & Noble's Nook e-reader to hit stores
|
US shuttle Endeavour blasts off for space station
Disney, Google eye stake in China bus media firm
|
Bomb hits trucks carrying Thai soldiers; 7 wounded
Failed job seekers add to homeless problem in ND
Taiwan court extends ex-leader's custody
Charlie and Brooke Sheen due in court Monday
Tainted milk powder still on sale in China: report
Internet prompts the publishing itch in over-60s
|
China bus with 43 aboard plunges down valley: report
Riding green wave, Philips says let there be LED
|
Body found in airplane wheel well at Tokyo airport
5 men, 1 woman aboard shuttle Endeavour
Vodafone Enterprise signs 4-year Oracle deal
|
Sri Lanka journalists hold anti-government protest
Obama's Monday filled with meetings
Intel Israel exports jump 145 pct, seeks grant for expansion
|
US shuttle Endeavour reaches orbit
11 soldiers dead, 50 trapped in Kashmir avalanche
NKorea threatens South amid push to restart talks
Official: About 5 unaccounted for after CT blast
Thailand tightens security ahead of Thaksin ruling
Doctor finally looks at charge in Jackson death
LA-area cleans up from storms, new round coming
Senior Afghan official accused of militant links
Chinese police shut down hacker training business
Taiwan exports surge 76 percent in January
Sumitomo Mitsui triples nine-month profit
India sees 7.2 percent growth as economy recovers
Ex-NFL star Sapp released from Fla. jail on bond
Hyundai boss made to pay fine over losses to firm
Gary Coleman scheduled for Utah court appearance
The black magic of Massive Attack's new album
Google warns Chinese copycat website: report
Charlie and Brooke Sheen due in court
Berlin film fest looks back at 60 years of scandal
Toyota faces fresh questions over recall response
Pakistan's Soneri Bank says eyes RBS Pakistan
Hollywood names up for Olivier theatre awards
|
The Who perform hits medley at Super Bowl halftime
Bleak outlook for Iraq's lonely hearts
UAE hospital offers treatment that's for the birds
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights