Space Shuttle Launch April 29, 2011: Watch Live

Space Shuttle Endeavor Launch April 29: Gabrielle Giffords to Watch

The Space Shuttle Endeavor is set to launch on its final mission at 3:47pm local time on April 29, 2011. However, there is a 30% chance of a shuttle launch weather delay due to the violent storms that have hit the South and the East. Also, a brush fire near the launch pad may cause a delay.

Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (who will show up without part of her skull to watch husband Mark Kelly blast off) and President Barack Obama will be in attendance.

Watch the Space Shuttle Launch Live

To watch the live STS-134 shuttle launch, check out:

• NASA TV: Live Shuttle Launch
  
• Youtube: PBS Live Interactive Coverage
• NASA Ustream Channel
  

If the space shuttle launch is delayed, NASA has a launch window open until May 4.

Lego in Space

The Space Shuttle will be carrying a special payload: Lego bricks. The Lego Education Unit (yes, it really exists) has tasked astronauts with building stuff from Lego, to see how the process is affected by the absence of gravity. Science is cool.

The Endeavor will also develop a set of tiny satellites, developed at Cornell University, to the ISS. These fingernail-sized satellites are prototypes for eventual fuel-less exploratory missions.

The space shuttle crew will also be delivering the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, as well as spare parts, during its 14-day mission.

STS-134: Space Shuttle Crew:

• Commander Mark Kelly
• Pilot Gregory H. Johnson
• Mission Specialist Michael Fincke
• Mission Specialist Greg Chamitoff
  
• Mission Specialist Andrew Feustel
• European Space Agency Astronaut Roberto Vittori

Videos

You Talk to Endeavour: Ask NASA Crew Questions for a LIVE Interview From Space

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sourced by Jordan Yerman