![]() ![]() "That, I think, has gotten people interested in the mission," Beutel said. At one time, last year, the astronaut brothers were scheduled to meet up in space before delays pushed their different missions apart. Scott Kelly is due to return to Earth later this month on a Russian Soyuz capsule. Kelly also has an identical twin brother, Scott Kelly, who is also an astronaut and is currently commanding the International Space Station. He said at the time that he hopes Giffords will be able to attend the April launch. Last month, Kelly announced he planned to continue training for Endeavour's final voyage. Giffords has since been moved to a rehabilitation center in Houston, where Kelly lives and works. Six people were killed and 13 injured in that attack. Kelly is the husband of Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who is in a Houston hospital recovering from a gunshot wound to the head she received during tragic January shooting spree in Tucson. The commander for Endeavour's final flight, the STS-134 mission, is veteran NASA astronaut Mark Kelly. (Image credit: Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords office) "What's taking place related to Endeavour's commander…that, I think, has gotten people interested in the mission," Beutel said.Ĭongresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (right) with her husband, NASA astronaut Mark Kelly. With Discovery returning to Earth while Endeavour is preparing to launch, "there's obviously a lot more interest from the general public, and of course, the reporters who are covering the missions," Beutel said. 31, about 3,000 people – mostly shuttle workers and their families – turned out to see the event, he added.Įndeavour could attract an even larger group of fans. When Discovery rolled out to the launch pad for its final flight on Jan. Discovery's launch last week drew an estimated 40,000 people, NASA officials have said.Įven Endeavour's last trip to the launch pad is expected to draw a crowd, Beutel said. The shuttle Atlantis will follow on June 28 to deliver spare parts and extra supplies to the orbiting laboratory.īoth remaining shuttle launches are expected to draw record crowds of spectators hoping to see a NASA orbiter blast off before the program ends. The final flight of Endeavour is currently set to launch April 19 to deliver a $1.5 billion astrophysics experiment to the International Space Station. The shuttle is due to launch its final mission STS-134 on April 19, 2011. AP.At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, employees hold up a banner to commemorate space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission as it is moved from its hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Feb." Shuttle Endeavors To Return To Earth" - Internet Broadcasting Systems, WTAE, August 21, 2007.The threat of Dean heading toward Texas earlier last week prompted NASA to cut the mission a few days short in the case that Dean tracked north toward Houston's Mission Control Center, potentially disabling operations. The shuttle will pass above Hurricane Dean on the approach to Florida, but the shuttle will be too high to be affected. The three-inch (7.6 cm) gash in the shuttle's belly reported earlier is likely not a safety risk, and should not lead to damage that requires any lengthy repair, NASA said. Also, NASA says that usual back-up landing sites at Edwards Air Force Base in California and White Sands in New Mexico are not expected to be used.Ĭommander Scott Kelly was given the go-ahead for re-entry preparations after evaluation of the shuttle's wings and nose was completed, indicating no damage from space debris. Weather conditions at the Kennedy Space Center are not forecast to be a problem, and the landing will take place as planned given a favorable crosswind.Ī second landing in Florida is possible at the Kennedy Space Center at 2:06 p.m. ![]() Rockets were fired to slow down the shuttle at 11:25 a.m. Space Shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to touchdown at 12:32 p.m. Tuesday, AugHigh-resolution image showing the damage to the tiles. ![]()
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