Space shuttle Endeavour has been cleared for launch following a successful fuel test this week. The mission, code named STS-127, will deliver and install the final elements of the Japan Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory to the International Space Station.

Tests

A test fueling of space shuttle Endeavour's external tank revealed no gaseous hydrogen leaks, verifying recent repairs were successful, NASA managers confirmed during a Wednesday afternoon news conference at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

The tanking test began at 6:52 a.m. EDT Wednesday. For three hours, teams in the Launch Control Center watched closely for signs of a leak as liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen poured into the massive orange tank.

Previous attempts to launch Endeavour on the STS-127 mission were scrubbed by a leak in the area of the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate, which attaches a gaseous hydrogen vent line to the external tank. Crews worked tirelessly to investigate and repair the problem.

"There were absolutely no leak indications whatsoever noted on the two leak detectors," said Launch Director Pete Nickolenko. "We'll continue to look at the data, and our next step is to move toward launch."

Launch date set

Endeavour's launch is targeted for July 11 at 7:39 p.m. EDT from pad 39a at the Kennedy Space Center. During the 16-day mission astronauts will conduct five spacewalks and complete construction of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo laboratory. Astronauts will attach a platform to the outside of the Japanese module that will allow experiments to be exposed to space.

The crew members are Commander Mark Polansky, Pilot Doug Hurley and Mission Specialists Dave Wolf, Christopher Cassidy, Tom Marshburn, Tim Kopra and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette.

Kopra will join the space station crew and replace Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata. Wakata will return to Earth on Endeavour, concluding a three-month stay at the station.

Shuttles life nears end

After 126 space shuttle missions, only eight remain before the fleet is scheduled to retire. Little time now remains to use the unique capabilities of the shuttle and finish construction of the International Space Station and prepare it for life after shuttle.

Source:Xinhua/NASA