NASA Gives 'Go' for Shuttle Endeavour Launch on Aug. 7

July 26, 2007

John Yembrick
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-0602
john.yembrick-1@xxxxxxxx

George Diller
Kennedy Space Center, Fla.
321-867-2468
george.h.diller@xxxxxxxx

RELEASE: 07-166

NASA GIVES 'GO' FOR SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR LAUNCH ON AUG. 7

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - On Thursday, NASA managers set Aug. 7 as the
official launch date for space shuttle Endeavour's STS-118 mission to
the International Space Station. Liftoff from NASA's Kennedy Space
Center, Fla., is scheduled for 7:02 p.m. EDT.

Endeavour's launch date was announced following the traditional
Flight
Readiness Review at Kennedy. During the two-day meeting, top NASA and
contractor managers assessed any risks associated with the mission
and determined that the shuttle's equipment, support systems and
procedures are ready for flight.

Commander Scott Kelly and his six crewmates are scheduled to arrive
at
Kennedy at 5 p.m. Friday, Aug. 3, for final launch preparations. The
countdown is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 4.

During the 11-day mission, Endeavour's crew will add another truss
segment to the expanding station, install a new gyroscope on the
complex and add an external spare parts platform. The flight will
include at least three spacewalks. The crew will debut a new system
that enables docked shuttles to draw electrical power from the
station to extend visits to the outpost. If this system functions as
expected, three additional days will be added to the STS-118 mission.

Joining Kelly on the flight will be Pilot Charlie Hobaugh and mission
specialists Tracy Caldwell, Rick Mastracchio, Barbara R. Morgan,
Alvin Drew and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Dave Williams.

The mission will be Endeavour's first flight in more than four and a
half years. The spacecraft has undergone extensive modifications,
including the addition of safety upgrades already added to shuttles
Discovery and Atlantis.

For more information about the STS-118 mission, including images and
interviews with the crew, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle


-end-

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