Night-time shuttle launch to come on Tuesday

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Source: CCTV.com | 03-11-2008 08:52

Space shuttle Endeavour is poised for a rare night-time launch to the international space station and the longest visit ever to the orbiting outpost.

The space shuttle Endeavour stands covered by the Rotating Service Structure at sunrise as workers prepare for mission STS-123 at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida March 10, 2008. Launch of the shuttle with a crew of seven astronauts is scheduled for March 11. [Agencies]

Tuesday's shuttle launch will be the first in darkness since 2006 and will also be NASA's longest space station mission at 16 days.

Endeavour's seven-man crew, including a 53 year old Japanese Astronaut, will deliver a new Japanese compartment to the space station - the first of three lab instalments.

It is also carrying a Canadian robot designed to help with outside maintenance. Five spacewalks are planned in the expedition.