Image above: In the Vehicle Assembly Building, Endeavour joins its external tank and solid rocket boosters on the mobile launcher platform. Photo credit: NASA/Troy Cryder

• Watch NASA TV
Endeavour readies for August launch

Space Shuttle Endeavour mating and launch processing operations are under way in preparation for a rollout to Launch Pad 39A, which is currently targeted for no earlier than July 10.

Weather permitting, the mission payload will be transferred to the launch pad early Saturday.

Image above: The crew members of STS-118 pose for their official portrait. Pictured from the left are mission specialists Richard A. (Rick) Mastracchio, Barbara R. Morgan, Pilot Charles O. Hobaugh, Commander Scott J. Kelly and mission specialists Tracy E. Caldwell, Canadian Space Agency's Dafydd R. (Dave) Williams, and Alvin Drew Jr. Credit: NASA

NASA is quickly gearing up for the shuttle's next visit to the International Station, targeted for an August 7 launch.

The mission will deliver the S5 truss to the station and will mark the first flight of Mission Specialist Barbara Morgan, the teacher-turned-astronaut whose association with NASA began more than 20 years ago.

STS-118 will be the first flight for Endeavour since 2002.

Space Shuttle Endeavour's STS-118 mission is the 22nd shuttle flight to the International Space Station. It will continue space station construction by delivering a third starboard truss segment.

U.S. Navy Commander Scott J. Kelly, KC5ZSW, will command the seven-person crew of STS-118. U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Col Charles O. Hobaugh will be Endeavour's pilot.
Veteran astronauts Richard A. Mastracchio, KC5ZTE, and Dr. Dafydd (Dave) Williams of the Canadian Space Agency will be returning to space for their second missions.

Barbara R. Morgan, KD5VNP, Tracy E. Caldwell, Ph. D., and Benjamin Alvin Drew round out the crew as mission specialists.