Endeavours crew heads to the launch pad Monday
/ NASA
CAPE CANAVERAL, FLA (AP) -- Space shuttle Endeavour is on its way to the International Space Station.
The launch was supposed to take place more than two weeks ago, but was delayed by an electrical problem.
Commanding Endeavour's final voyage is astronaut Mark Kelly. His wife, Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords again made the trip from Houston, where she's still undergoing treatment and rehabilitation for the bullet wound to the head she suffered in January.
She and the other astronaut families watched the liftoff in private.
The other crew members include: Pilot Gregory H. Johnson and Mission Specialists Michael Fincke, Greg Chamitoff, Andrew Feustel and European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori.
During the 16-day mission, Endeavour and its crew will deliver the 16 billion dollar Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) and spare parts including two S-band communications antennas, a high-pressure gas tank and additional spare parts for Dextre. This will be the 36th shuttle mission to the International Space Station.
An electrical problem halted the countdown on April 29. NASA says that trouble is behind. The astronauts are excited everything is going so well this time.
Kelly's co-pilot, Gregory Johnson, says he's "charged up."
Endeavour has logged more than 103 million miles in space, blasting off 24 times, but its 25th flight will be its last.
You can see the launch live by clicking on the icon below:
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