Shuttle Endeavour To Move To Pad, Crew Ready For Countdown Test

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA’s space shuttle Endeavour is targeted to roll out to Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Fla., on Tuesday, July 10, as preparations for the STS-118 mission continue. First motion of Endeavour is scheduled for 12:01 a.m. EDT. After rollout, the next milestone will be a July 16-19 dress rehearsal of launch, which includes a practice countdown. Endeavour is targeted to lift off Aug. 7 on an 11-day mission to the International Space Station.

The fully assembled space shuttle, consisting of the orbiter, external tank and twin solid rocket boosters, will be mounted on a Mobile Launcher Platform and delivered to the pad atop a crawler transporter. The crawler will travel slower than 1 mph during the 3.4-mile journey. The process is expected to take approximately six hours.

NASA Television will provide live coverage of the rollout beginning at 6 a.m. EDT as Endeavour approaches the launch pad. Video highlights of the rollout will air on NASA TV’s Video File segments.

Permanently badged media should contact the Kennedy News Center at 321-867-2468 by 4 p.m., Monday, July 9, if they plan to attend the rollout. Media must arrive at Kennedy’s press site by 6:30 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, July 10, for transportation to the viewing area.

The July 16-19 event, known as the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test, will feature astronauts and ground crews participating in a launch dress rehearsal. The test provides the crew of each shuttle mission with an opportunity to practice various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency egress training.

U.S. media requesting access to attend the demonstration test events must apply for credentials separately from the STS-118 mission badge. Foreign news media accreditation for this event is closed. U.S. media without permanent Kennedy Space Center credentials should apply online by 4 p.m., July 12, at:


https://media.ksc.nasa.gov