We're now close to entering the final five and a half hours of the countdown toward the
last flight of space shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-134.
The countdown is being controlled from Firing Room 4 at the Launch Control Center
here at Complex 39 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
And we are on schedule for liftoff targeted for 8:56 a.m. Eastern time.
This is the 134th launch of the Space Shuttle Program, the 25th launch of s pace shuttle Endeavour,
and the 36th flight to the International Space Station.
Endeavour will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, called AMS-2,
a particle physics detector designed to search for various types of unusual matter by measuring cosmic rays.
Its experiments are designed to help researchers study and look for clues to the formation of the universe.
Endeavour will also bring up to the station, the Express Logistics Carrier-3, an external platform for the space station,
that holds large equipment that will carry spare parts and equipment to sustain the space station's
operations in space once the last space shuttle flight has occurred this summer
There are four planned EVAs, or spacewalks, outside the International Space Station during the
STS-134 mission to do maintenance and install new components.
These will be the last scheduled spacewalks by the space shuttle crew for the remainder of the program.
Meanwhile, the Final Inspection Team has been m easuring the temperatures on the surface of the vehicle
looking for any ice buildup and performing a final check for any FOD,
or foreign object debris that could strike the orbiter upon ignition.
The seven-member crew will have walked up and down the entire 380-foot tower of the
fixed service structure at the conclusion of their inspections.
Weather continues to be favorable with just a 30 percent chance of not meeting our launch weather criteria this morning.
A slight chance for a low cloud ceiling and a crosswind, but at least at this point and time, neither is being observed.
We have one hour, 28 minutes, 24 seconds remaining in this planned built-in hold.
At T-minus three hours and holding, this is Shuttle Launch Control.