April 5, 2001

Kirsten Larson
Headquarters, Washington, DC
(Phone: 202/358-0243)

Bruce Buckingham
Kennedy Space Center, FL
(Phone: 321/867-2468)

James Hartsfield
Johnson Space Center, Houston, TX
(Phone: 281/483-5111)

Release: J01-36

Endeavour Launch Set For April 19; Mission Will Expand Human Reach in Space With Canadian International Space Station Robotics

Endeavour will launch April 19, 2001, to deliver a new generation of Canadian space robotics to the International Space Station. The robotic arm is longer, stronger, more flexible and more capable than even the Space Shuttle's venerable arm.

Shuttle managers today set Endeavour's launch for 2:41 p.m. EDT April 19 from the Kennedy Space Center, FL, on an 11-day mission that will continue the assembly that has transformed the orbiting complex during the past eight months into the largest and most sophisticated space laboratory ever built.

"The launch of Endeavour marks a significant milestone for us in that it completes a quick, safe and successful full turnaround of the Space Shuttle fleet dedicated to assembly of the station in only a few months," Space Shuttle Program Manager Ron Dittemore said. "Once Endeavour arrives on this flight, all three shuttles capable of docking with the station will have done so twice in the past eight months. The International Space Station's assembly has relied on our ability to maintain a schedule of regular launches to complete uniquely complex missions, and the shuttle team has come through in safe, successful and spectacular fashion."

In addition to the Canadarm2, which is the centerpiece of Canada's contribution to the International Space Station, Endeavour's flight, designated STS-100, also will carry the second Italian Space Agency logistics carrier, a module named Raffaello. Endeavour's flight is planned to include the most complex and intricate robotics work ever conducted in space to install the arm, as well as to deliver more research equipment and experiments to the station than any previous mission.

Commanded by Kent Rominger, Endeavour's crew represents four space agencies and is the most diverse international crew to ever fly in space. Pilot is Jeff Ashby; and Mission Specialists include John Phillips and Scott Parazynski; Chris Hadfield, a Canadian Space Agency astronaut; Umberto Guidoni, a European Space Agency astronaut; and Yuri Lonchakov, a Russian Aviation and Space Agency cosmonaut.

Endeavour is scheduled to land April 30 at the Kennedy Space Center.

text-only version of this release