The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to launch the Endeavor space shuttle Friday at 7:55 p.m.  The mission is one of four trips this year to the International Space Station to refurbish the residential area of the space station.

 

According to a NASA press release, seven astronauts led by Capt. Chris Ferguson will make the roughly 200 mile journey to bring new supplies to station.  It will take two full days to get to the space station.  You can see a picture of the crew courtesy of NASA here.

 

“The mission is all about home improvement, home improvement both inside and out,” Ferguson told CNN.  Indeed, the mission is all about fixes and repairs to the station.

 

The residential area will be converted from a three to a six person living space.  Crew members often live on the space station for months at a time, so a comfortable living space is important for the scientists and technological experts involved in the station’s maintenance and advancements.

 

The crew will also conduct four spacewalks to service the station.  The servicing will include installing a new nitrogen tank, a global positioning system, an antenna, and a camera. 

 

Reaching the space station will require a series of maneuvers that involve adequate lighting and extensive precision.  The overall mission will take 16 days, a short time period compared to the length of planning.  LeRoy Cain, NASA launch integration manager, emphasized the crew’s preparedness saying, “The crew is ready.  The team is ready.”