Endeavour, Crew Prep for STS-130

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, technicians are completing the shuttle interface and hydraulic leak tests in the Vehicle Assembly Building today.

Space shuttle Endeavour and its solid rocket boosters will be powered down and prepared for their move, or rollout, to Launch Pad 39A scheduled for early January 2010.

The six STS-130 mission astronauts will carry out a variety of administrative duties this morning at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Commander George Zamka and Pilot Terry Virts also will practice shuttle landing techniques in T-38 jets and NASA's Shuttle Training Aircraft.

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Lowering Endeavour

In High Bay 1 in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a crane lowers space shuttle Endeavour toward the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters to which it will be attached.

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Preparing to Lift Endeavour

In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, a United Space Alliance technician prepares to attach a lifting sling to space shuttle Endeavour.

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Preparing for Lift

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers prepare to attach a lifting sling on space shuttle Endeavour following its arrival in the Vehicle Assembly Building transfer aisle.

Endeavour was towed from the nearby Orbiter Processing Facility in preparation for launch of the STS-130 mission.

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Preps for the STS-130 Mission Continue

Technicians at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida are testing the electrical connections on space shuttle Endeavour in the Vehicle Assembly Building.

The vehicle and its solid rocket boosters will be powered-up for the shuttle interface test and the twin boosters hydraulic systems will be tested for leaks today.

Meanwhile, at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the six STS-130 mission astronauts will conduct a deorbit preparation simulation attired in their orange launch-and-landing suits.

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Endeavour Awaits Move to Pad

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Endeavour now is attached to its twin solid rocket boosters and external fuel tank atop the mobile launcher platform.

Rollout from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A is slated for early January 2010.

The six STS-130 astronauts are practicing with some of the tools they'll be using on their spacewalks in addition to rehearsing thermal protection system repair techniques at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Shuttle Endeavour, with its payload of the Tranquility node and the seven-windowed Cupola module, is targeted to launch Feb. 4, 2010.

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Endeavour on the Move Today

Space shuttle Endeavour is ready to leave its hangar and be transported to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Rollover is a major milestone to get a shuttle ready for its next mission.

Managers are meeting this morning to confirm everything is on track for Endeavour's move from Orbiter Processing Facility-2 to the VAB starting at 1 p.m. EST.

NASA TV will air live video coverage of rollover, which also is available online at www.nasa.gov/ntv.

The team will spend the rest of the afternoon and this weekend attaching Endeavour to its two solid rocket boosters and external fuel tank on the mobile launcher platform.

Training for the STS-130 crew members at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston focuses on practicing robotics techniques in the fixed-based simulator today.

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Robert Behnken

STS-130 Mission Specialist Robert Behnken, attired in a training version of his Extravehicular Mobility Unit spacesuit, awaits the start of a spacewalk training session in the waters of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory near NASA's Johnson Space Center.

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Endeavour's Move to VAB Set for Tomorrow

Technicians at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida will hook up space shuttle Endeavour to the Orbiter Transporter System, or OTS, today. The transporter system will move the shuttle from its hangar in Orbiter Processing Facility-2 to the Vehicle Assembly Building, scheduled for 1 p.m. EST Friday.

The move, or rollover, is pending a review meeting tomorrow morning along with good weather.

The STS-130 astronauts are in the neutral buoyancy lab near NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston today training for the second of three scheduled spacewalks.

Meanwhile, Commander George Zamka and Pilot Terry Virts will practice landing techniques in the T-38 and Shuttle Training Aircraft jets.

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New Date for Endeavour's Rollover

Space shuttle Endeavour will be moved from its hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida a day earlier than planned.

First motion from Orbiter Processing Facility-2 to the VAB, is targeted for 1 p.m. EST on Dec. 11, pending good weather and approval from a review meeting scheduled for Friday morning.

Managers moved up the rollover after evaluating Endeavour's processing progress and confirming the change wouldn't adversely affect the team.

Forecasters are calling for possible bad weather on Saturday, so targeting rollover for Friday gives the team additional flexibility to make the move this week.

Once in the VAB, Endeavour will be attached to the waiting solid rocket boosters and external fuel tank for its STS-130 mission to the International Space Station, currently targeted to launch in early February.

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Wheel Balance for Endeavour

Technicians at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida will lower space shuttle Endeavour onto its wheels, weigh it and balance it today for its upcoming move into the Vehicle Assembly Building.

Tomorrow, Endeavour will be hooked up to the vehicle that will tow it from Orbiter Processing Facility-2 to the VAB. The move, or rollover, is scheduled to start at 7 a.m. EST on Saturday.

At NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston, the six STS-130 astronauts are conducting an integrated simulation to practice techniques for the second of three scheduled spacewalks.

Shuttle Endeavour, with its payload of the Tranquility node and the seven-windowed Cupola module, is targeted to launch Feb. 4, 2010.

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Endeavour on Track for Saturday's Move to the VAB

Technicians in Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center are working to get space shuttle Endeavour ready to be lowered onto its wheels in preparation for its move into the Vehicle Assembly Building.

Yesterday, the shuttle was powered down, the tires pressurized and the side hatch closed for its upcoming move, known as rollover, scheduled to start at 7 a.m. EST Saturday. Once in the VAB, the shuttle will be lifted and attached to the waiting external tank and twin solid rocket boosters.

The six STS-130 mission astronauts are conducting an integrated entry simulation in the motion base simulator today at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

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