WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.000


00:00:01.000 --> 00:00:04.000
Candrea Thomas/Launch Commentator: This is shuttle launch control at T-minus three hours and holding.

00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:08.000
The countdown for space shuttle 
Endeavour's STS-126 mission to the

00:00:08.000 --> 00:00:12.000
International Space Station is under way and on schedule.

00:00:12.000 --> 00:00:20.000
Launch is scheduled for 7:55 p.m. eastern time from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center here in Florida.

00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:25.000
The launch window is about five minutes. Managers and engineers in Firing Room 4

00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:29.000
at Launch Control Center are monitoring the countdown.

00:00:29.000 --> 00:00:34.000
There are currently no issues that are being worked that would delay launch.

00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:41.000
Countdown began this morning with the tanking, which was on time at 10:30 a.m. and was completed at 1:30 p.m.

00:00:41.000 --> 00:00:47.000
We're now in stable replenish. The external fuel tank was loaded with more than

00:00:47.000 --> 00:00:54.000
500,000 gallons of super-cold liquid oxygen-hydrogen, which is used by the shuttle's three main engines at liftoff.

00:00:54.000 --> 00:01:02.000
This morning the STS-126 crew awoke at 11:00 a.m. for their launch.

00:01:02.000 --> 00:01:09.000
They had breakfast about 11:30 a.m. and they received final medical exams.

00:01:09.000 --> 00:01:15.000
In just a while, the astronauts will receive a weather briefing from the ascent team flight.

00:01:15.000 --> 00:01:20.000
At the shuttle launch pad, the Final Inspection Team is currently working its way up the launch structure.

00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:25.000
The launch director, Mike Lienbach, followed cryogenic tanking operations.

00:01:25.000 --> 00:01:29.000
Then, he dispatched his team of engineers and safety personnel to the pad.

00:01:29.000 --> 00:01:33.000
The team's purpose is to make a final 
inspection of the launch pad and the shuttle

00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:38.000
to make sure it's ready for launch this evening.

00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:42.000
The STS mission will give the station the 
ability to support twice the number of crew,

00:01:42.000 --> 00:01:45.000
going from three to six crew members next year.

00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:50.000
The equipment is being carried up in a Multi-Purpose Logistics Module named Leonardo.

00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:56.000
Along with the work inside the station, there's four spacewalks to repair the Solar Alpha Rotary Joints.

00:01:56.000 --> 00:02:00.000
These joints generate the power needed for the extra crew members.

00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:05.000
There are two, 10-foot wide wagon-wheel shaped joints on the station's truss,

00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:13.000
which allows the electricity-generating solar arrays to rotate so they're always getting as much sun as possible.

00:02:13.000 --> 00:02:19.000
STS-126 is the 124th space shuttle flight and the 27th flight to the station.

00:02:19.000 --> 00:02:25.000
This is Endeavour's 22nd flight and this is the fourth flight in 2008.

00:02:25.000 --> 00:02:29.000
The mission will be docked during the 10th Anniversary of the space station on Nov. 20.

00:02:29.000 --> 00:02:30.000