Watch Space Shuttle Launch Live: Endeavour to Launch Mission to International Space Station

The space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to launch from the Kennedy Space Center, in Florida, at 4:14 a.m. EST, on February 8, 2010. According to NASA, the STS-130's 13 day mission to the International Space Station is to deliver a module control room for robotics. The space shuttle's mission will also feature three space walks.

UPDATE 4:14 a.m. EST: The space shuttle Endeavour successfully launched!

UPDATE 4:00 a.m. EST: The space shuttle has been given a unanimous "go" for launch, by the mission management team.

Watch the Space Shuttle Launch Live

NASA TV is broadcasting the space shuttle Endeavour's launch live, from NASA's website. The broadcast also features live commentary and status updates, as the shuttle prepares to launch. The shuttle is currently on T-9 and holding. This is a "built-in hold and is scheduled to last 45 minutes." Viewers are able to see up close shots of the shuttle's launch and rocket boosters.

NASA television will be replaying the launch, so those who missed it the first time around will be able to view the space shuttle beginning its mission. STS-130 mission coverage will air continue to air for the remainder of Monday. Mission audio can also be heard on the NASA site.

Space Shuttle Endeavor's STS-130 Mission

The Endeavour is expected to reach the International Space Station on day three of its 13-day mission. According to NASA's website the STS-130 Mission is to deliver a module to the International Space Station. The module, named Tranquility, will have six windows, offering a view of Earth. The Tranquility node also contains life support and environmental controls for the space station. A robotics control station is also located in the new module. The main goal of this mission is to "install, activate and checkout Tranquility."

The space shuttle Endeavour is also delivering one ton of supplies to the International Space Station. These include a fluid control pump for urine processing, a water processing filter, foodstuffs and health care supplies.

The space shuttle Endeavour's mission is expected to include three space walks. These will occur on days five, six and eight. The space walks will total 19.5 hours and will be performed by mission specialists Robert Behnken and Nicholas Patrick.

Space Shuttle Mission STS-130 Crew

George Zamka is the commander of STS-130. He is a U.S. Marine colonel. Zamka will oversee the space shuttle crew and insure mission objectives are met. He currently has 15 days in space and logged over 4,000 flight hours.

Terry Virts is the pilot for this mission. He is a colonel in the U.S. Air Force. Responsibilities include orbiter systems and robotic arm operations. This is Virts first space mission and he has logged more than 3,800 flight hours.

Kathryn Hire will be handling the shuttle's robotic arm operations. She is a captain in the U.S. Navy Reserve. Hire has 15 days in space, as a flight engineer.

Stephen Robinson is a veteran astronaut, who has been on three previous space missions. He has logged over 34 days in space. Robinson's 831 hours of space time include over 21 hours of space walking.

Nicholas Patrick is serving a a mission specialist on STS-130. This is his second space flight. Patrick has over 12 days of in-space experience and 20 hours space walk time.

Robert Behnken is also a mission specialist on the space shuttle Endeavour. He is a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force. This will be Behnken's second space mission. He has 15 days of space experience, 19 hours of which was spacewalk time.

Sources:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/423514main_sts130_press_kit_2.pdf