NASA sets June 13 as date for space shuttle Endeavour's launch

WASHINGTON, June 3 (Xinhua) -- NASA managers completed a review Wednesday of space shuttle Endeavour's readiness for flight and selected June 13 as the official launch date for the STS-127 mission to the International Space Station, NASA said Wednesday in a press release.

Attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, the STS-127 crew pose in this October 10, 2008 NASA image. On the  front row are Commander Mark Polansky (R) and Pilot Doug Hurley. The  remaining crew members are (L-R) astronauts Dave Wolf, Christopher  Cassidy, Canadian Space Agency's Julie Payette, Tom Marshburn and Tim Kopra, all mission specialists. Kopra is scheduled to join Expedition 20 as flight engineer after launching to the International Space Station with the STS-127 crew. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

Commander Mark Polansky and his six crewmates are scheduled to lift off at 7:17 a.m. EDT (1117 GMT) from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, NASA said.

Endeavour's launch date was announced following a daylong Flight Readiness Review at Kennedy. During the meeting, top NASA and contractor managers assessed the risks associated with the mission and determined the shuttle's equipment, support systems and procedures are ready for flight.

The 16-day mission will feature five space walks 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 STS-127 crew members are 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 to conclude a three-month stay at the station.