STS 130

STS 130 is a space shuttle mission of NASA which was scheduled to be launched today i.e. February 7, 2010 at 4:39 am but its launch has now been postponed to February 8 at 4:15 Eastern Time.

STS 130 mission involves Endeavour shuttle which will carry six mission members. The six members of the STS 130 mission include Terry Virts, Kathryn P. Hire, Stephen Robinson, Nicholas Patrick, and Robert L. Behnken. STS 130 is being led by Commander George D. Zamka. This is the second spaceflight of Zamka, Behnken, Patrick, and Hire and the fourth spaceflight of Stephen Robinson while the first spaceflight of the shuttle pilot Terry Virts.

STS 130 mission will carry and deliver Tranquility and a cupola to the International Space Station. The tranquility, which weighs 13,004 kg, is built in Italy and was shipped from Italy’s Thales Alenia Space facility to U.S. It arrived at Kennedy Space Center in March 2009. The tranquility was named Node 3 through a NASA poll.

STS 130 mission will be completed in 13 Flight days.

Apart from these technical objectives, the STS-130 mission will mark some very interesting events as well. It is the first space shuttle mission of 2010. STS-130 will be the last space shuttle mission ever to be launched in dark. STS-130 space shuttle mission is the 131st American manned space flight and the 32nd shuttle mission sent to International Space Station.

STS 130