Space shuttle Endeavor was rolled from its processing facility to the nearby Vehicle Assembly Building this morning as technicians prepare the orbiter for a mission NASA hopes the shuttle will never have to fly, a backup rescue flight for Atlantis' Hubble telescope servicing mission. VIDEO: TIMELAPSE VIDEO OF ENDEAVOUR BEING MOVED TO THE VAB ALL-ACCESS SUBSCRIBERS: SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR IS TOWED TO THE VEHICLE ASSEMBLY BUILDING Instead, NASA hopes to launch Endeavour on a mission to the International Space Station in June. Over the weekend, Endeavour will be joined to its external fuel tank and twin solid rocket boosters in preparation for the STS-127 mission to the International Space Station. This paves the way for the shuttle interface test on Monday, followed by rollout to the launch pad next Friday. Prior to its STS-127 mission, Endeavour will be stationed at Launch Pad 39B where it will be on standby in the unlikely event that a rescue mission for the Atlantis crew would be necessary during their STS-125 mission to service the Hubble Space Telescope. After Endeavour is cleared from its duty as a rescue vehicle, workers will move it to Launch Pad 39A in preparation for liftoff on STS-127. Atlantis is targeted for liftoff on Hubble's servicing mission May 12. Assuming no rescue mission is required, Endeavour will follow in quick succession with launch in mid-June as the space agency marches toward completion of assembly of the space station. (The Spacearium / Space Media Corporation)
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