From Newsgroup: sci.space.news

May 09, 2011

Stephanie L. Schierholz 
Headquarters, Washington      
202-358-1100 
stephanie.schierholz{at}nasa.gov 

Kyle Herring 
Johnson Space Center, Houston 
281-483-5111 
kyle.j.herring{at}nasa.gov 

Candrea Thomas 
Kennedy Space Center, Fla. 
321-867-2468 
candrea.k.thomas{at}nasa.gov   


RELEASE: 11-134

NASA SETS MAY 16 FOR FINAL SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR LAUNCH

CAPE CANAVERAL -- NASA managers have set the liftoff of space shuttle 
Endeavour for 8:56 a.m. EDT on Monday, May 16. Launch attempts are 
available through May 26, except for May 21. The STS-134 mission to 
the International Space Station is the penultimate shuttle flight and 
the final one for Endeavour. 

Space Shuttle Program Launch Integration Manager Mike Moses and 
Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach announced the date at a news 
briefing Monday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They 
also discussed the progress of repairs since Endeavour's launch 
postponement on April 29. 

A short in the heater circuit associated with Endeavour's hydraulic 
system resulted in the launch postponement. Technicians determined 
the most likely failure was inside a switchbox in the shuttle's aft 
compartment and associated electrical wiring connecting the switchbox 
to the heaters. The heater circuits prevent freezing of the fuel 
lines providing hydraulic power to steer the vehicle during ascent 
and entry. 

The faulty box was replaced May 4. Since Friday, Kennedy technicians 
installed and tested new wiring that bypasses the suspect electrical 
wiring and confirmed the heater system is working properly. They also 
are completing retests of other systems powered by the switchbox and 
are closing out Endeavour's aft compartment. 

STS-134 Commander Mark Kelly and his five crewmates are set to arrive 
at Kennedy for prelaunch preparations on Thursday, May 12, at 
approximately 11 a.m. NASA Television will broadcast the crew's 
arrival live. For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and scheduling 
information, visit: 

http://www.nasa.gov/ntv 

The crew will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS) and 
critical supplies to the space station, including two communications 
antennas, a high-pressure gas tank and additional parts for the 
Dextre robot. AMS is a particle physics detector designed to search 
for various types of unusual matter. The crew also will transfer 
Endeavour's orbiter boom sensor system to the station, where it could 
assist spacewalkers as an extension for the station's robotic arm. 
For the latest information about the shuttle mission and its crew, 
visit: 

http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle   
	
-end-

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