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Endeavour set for Tuesday launch

Space shuttle Endeavour’s STS-123 mission is officially set for launch after getting the 'go' from NASA's Mission Management Team on Sunday. Liftoff from Kennedy Space Center, Florida, is scheduled for 2:28 a.m. EDT Tuesday, March 11.

LeRoy Cain, chair for the team, stated that the countdown to liftoff is proceeding smoothly. "I’m happy to report that the mission management team is not working any issues or constraints to launch." said Cain.

On Feb. 18, the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds flew past Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in commemoration of NASA's 50th anniversary. On the pad, space shuttle Endeavour waits to launch on the STS-123 mission. Photo courtesy of USAF/TSgt. Justin D. Pyle

Endeavour's go for launch clears STS-123's seven astronauts to start final preparations for their mission. Over the next few days, the crew will be busy double-checking equipment, rehearsing procedures and looking forward to an exciting trip into space.

At 6 a.m. Monday the gantry-like rotating service structure, which provides easy access and weather protection for Endeavour, will be retracted.

The current weather forecast calls for only a 10 percent chance atmospheric conditions will delay the launch, with the primary concern coming from a slight chance of a low cloud ceiling around Kennedy.

The flight is commanded by Dominic Gorie with Gregory H. Johnson serving as Pilot. The crew also includes Mission Specialists Rick Linnehan, Robert L. Behnken KE5GGX, Mike Foreman, Garrett Reisman KE5HAE and Japanese astronaut Takao Doi.

The crew will deliver the first section of the Japanese-built Kibo laboratory and the Canadian Space Agency's two-armed robotic system called Dextre.

STS-123 is an international mission combining the expertise and experience of several countries working together to create a working 'home' in space.