Space Shuttles Atlantis and Endeavour ready on Launch Pad

On Friday space shuttle Endeavour at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, completed its 4.2-mile trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B. With Atlantis on nearby Launch Pad 39A, this marks the final time that two shuttles will be on the launch pads at the same time, as the shuttle program will be ended next year.

The space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled for liftoff May 12 at 1:31 p.m. EDT, when the crew will begin the STS-125 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope. This will be the fifth and final mission to service the space telescope. Atlantis’ mission payload is set to arrive at the launch pad Saturday evening.

Prior to its STS-127 mission to the International Space Station, space shuttle Endeavour will remain on standby at the launch pad 39B for emergency rescue mission that may be required during the STS-125 mission. If no emergency situation arises, workers will move Endeavour to Launch Pad 39A in preparation for a targeted June 13 liftoff at 7:19 a.m. EDT.

Category: Space | Tags: Atlantis, Endeavour, Hubble, NASA, Space, Space Shuttle