The Endeavour Flies Again

Feb. 21: Space shuttle Endeavour returns to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., after a 14-day mission to the International Space Station. (AP)

The silhouette of the space shuttle Endeavour in a very unique setting over Earth's colorful horizon photographed by an Expedition 22 crew member prior to STS-130 rendezvous and docking operations with the International Space Station. (AP Photo/NASA)

In this image obtained via Twitter astronaut Soichi Noguchi aboard the International Space Station posted this image showing the Sahara Desert, the first view out of the cupola's windows on the observation deck of the the Tranquility module station early Wednesday morning Feb. 17, 2010. (AP Photo/NASA via Twitter)

This framegrab from NASA TV shows the interior view with all the shutters open for the first time on the observation deck of the Tranquility module on the International Space Station as it passes over the Atlantic ocean Wednesday morning Feb. 17, 2010. In a highly anticipated grand finale to their mission, astronauts opened the shutters on the International Space Station's new observation deck Wednesday and were humbled by "absolutely spectacular" views of Earth from inside the elaborate atrium of windows. (AP Photo/NASA)

This framegrab from NASA TV shows the interior view with all the shutters open for the first time on the observation deck of the Tranquility module on the International Space Station as it passes off the coast of Australia Wednesday morning Feb. 17, 2010. In a highly anticipated grand finale to their mission, astronauts opened the shutters on the International Space Station's new observation deck Wednesday and were humbled by "absolutely spectacular" views of Earth from inside the elaborate atrium of windows. (AP Photo/NASA)

This framegrab from NASA TV shows all the shutters open for the first time on the observation deck of the Tranquility module on the International Space Station as it passes over Africa Wednesday morning Feb. 17, 2010. (AP Photo/NASA)

Astronaut Robert Behnken participates in the mission's second session of extravehicular activity as construction and maintenance continue on the International Space Station, Sunday, Feb. 14, 2010. (AP Photo/NASA)

Astronaut Robert Behnken participates in the first session of extravehicular activity as construction and maintenance continue on the International Space Station. () (AP Photo/NASA)

Backdropped by Earth's horizon and the blackness of space, a portion of the International Space Station is featured in this image provided by NASA and photographed by a crew member on the International Space Station while space shuttle Endeavour remains docked with the station Monday Feb. 15, 2010. (AP Photo/NASA)

9 Feb -- This view of the aft portion of the space shuttle Endeavour, including the three main engines, was provided by an Expedition 22 crew member during a survey of the approaching vehicle prior to docking with the International Space Station. As part of the survey and part of every mission's activities, Endeavour performed a back-flip for the rendezvous. (NASA)

This underside of the crew cabin of the space shuttle Endeavour as captured by an Expedition 22 crew member during the approach of STS-130 to the International Space Station. (NASA)

13 Feb. -- NASA astronaut Nicholas Patrick, STS-130 mission specialist, attired in his Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) spacesuit, is pictured in the Quest airlock of the International Space Station prior to the start of the mission's second spacewalk. (NASA)

14 Feb. -- NASA astronaut Nicholas Patrick, STS-130 mission specialist, smiles for a photo while floating freely in the newly-installed Tranquility node of the International Space Station while space shuttle Endeavour remains docked with the station. (NASA)

13 Feb. -- NASA astronaut Stephen Robinson, STS-130 mission specialist, works in the vestibule between the Unity node and the newly-installed Tranquility node of the International Space Station while space shuttle Endeavour remains docked with the station. (NASA)

Feb. 10: Backdropped by Earth's horizon and the blackness of space, the International Space Station was photographed by a STS-130 crew member aboard the Endeavour as the space shuttle and the station approach each other during rendezvous and docking activities. (NASA)

Feb. 10: An  astronaut aboard the International Space Station photographed the Endeavour as the shuttle approached the International Space Station during rendezvous and docking operations.    (NASA)

Feb. 10: STS-130 pilot Terry Virts, bottom, mission specialists Nicholas Patrick, right, and Robert Behnken, left, and Expedition 22 flight engineer and JAXA astronaut Soichi Noguchi, top, work in the International Space Station's Quest airlock. For the past few weeks, Noguchi has been "tweeting" images of Earth from space. ( NASA)

Feb. 9: The Endeavour's crew cabin and forward payload bay during a survey of the approaching shuttle before it docked with the International Space Station. As part of the survey during each mission's activities, Endeavour performed a back-flip for the rendezvous pitch maneuver.  The image was photographed from the International Space Station with a digital still camera from a distance of about 600 feet. (NASA)

Feb. 8: NASA managers watch the liftoff of space shuttle Endeavour through the windows of the Launch Control Center in NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (NASA/Kim Shiflett)

Feb. 8: In the predawn darkness, space shuttle Endeavour emerges from behind its exhaust plume as it lifts off from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (NASA/ Kenny Allen )

Feb. 8: The Endeavour lights up the clouds over Launch Pad 39A as it lifts off from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (NASA/Jim Grossmann)

Space shuttle Endeavour lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Monday, Feb. 8, 2010. Endeavour is carrying six astronauts who will deliver a room and observation deck to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/Terry Renna)

Space shuttle Endeavour lifts off from launch pad 39a at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Monday, Feb. 8, 2010. Endeavour, is scheduled for a 13 day mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Space shuttle Endeavour lifts off from launch pad 39a at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., Monday, Feb. 8, 2010. Endeavour, is scheduled for a 13 day mission to the International Space Station. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

The space shuttle Endeavour shortly after the rotating service structure is rolled back on Saturday Feb. 6, 2010 at pad 39A of the NASA Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. Endeavour and the crew members of the STS-130 mission launched to the ISS early Monday morning. (AP Photo/NASA, Bill Ingalls)

Feb. 8: At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the Endeavour's STS-130 mission crew wave to spectators as they walk out of the Operations and Checkout Building for the ride to Launch Pad 39A. In the left column, from the front, are Commander George Zamka and Mission Specialists Kathryn Hire and Nicholas Patrick. In the right column, from the front, are Pilot Terry Virts and Mission Specialists Stephen Robinson and Robert Behnken. This was the second launch attempt for the STS-130 crew. The first attempt on Feb. 7 was scrubbed because of unfavorable weather. (NASA/Kim Shiflett)

July 17, 2009: STS-130 Mission Specialist Robert Behnken, attired in a training version of his Extravehicular Mobility Unit space suit, awaits the start of a space walk training session in the waters of the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory near NASA's Johnson Space Center. (NASA)

January 6: Space shuttle Endeavour is silhouetted against the pre-dawn sky just as the sun peeks over the horizon as it rolls out to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

December 12, 2009: In the transfer aisle of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Endeavour, rotated into a vertical position with the aid of a sling, is lifted high above the floor. (NASA)

January 6: The crawler-transporter keeps space shuttle Endeavour level as it travels up the five percent grade to the fixed service structure on Launch Pad 39A.  First motion on the 3.4-mile trip from the Vehicle Assembly Building, known as roll out, was at 4:13 a.m. EST.  Endeavour was secure or "hard down" on the pad at 10:37 a.m. (NASA)

January 18: At the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, STS-130 Commander George Zamka and Pilot Terry Virts practice touch-and-go landings in a Shuttle Training Aircraft in preparation for space shuttle Endeavour's STS-130 mission. (NASA)

January 18: The transportation canister containing Tranquility, the International Space Station's Node 3, is lifted toward the payload change out room in the fixed service structure on Launch Pad 39A. (NASA)

January 21: In the White Room at Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, suit technicians help STS-130 Pilot Terry Virts with adjustments to his launch-and-entry suit before he enters space shuttle Endeavour. (NASA)

January 23, 2010: Space shuttle Endeavour's payload bay doors have been closed for launch. Secured in the bay is the primary payload for Endeavour's STS-130 mission, the Tranquility node. Attached to one end of Tranquility is a cupola, a unique work area with six windows on its sides and one on top. The cupola resembles a circular bay window and will provide a vastly improved view of the station's exterior. (NASA)

January 21: STS-130 Mission Specialists Nicholas Patrick, at bottom, and Robert Behnken, dressed in their launch-and-entry suits, are secured in their seats in space shuttle Endeavour during their launch dress rehearsal, the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test. (NASA)

December 10, 2008: Fresh from the STS-126 mission space shuttle Endeavour, mounted atop its modified Boeing 747 carrier aircraft, flew over California's Mojave Desert on its way back to the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (NASA)

May 2009: After dark at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Endeavour was attached to the sling that lifted it off the shuttle carrier aircraft underneath. Endeavour landed in California, bringing to a close the STS-126 mission and was returned to Florida on a piggyback flight atop the shuttle carrier aircraft. After being lifted off the carrier, the shuttle was towed to the Orbiter Processing Facility. In the processing facility, Endeavour began preparations for its next mission, STS-127, targeted for May 2009. (NASA)

January 12:  In the Space Station Processing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, operations are under way to place the International Space Station's Node 3, named Tranquility, into a payload transportation canister for its move to Launch Pad 39A. Here, Tranquility is lowered into the canister.  Attached to one end of Tranquility is a cupola, a unique work area with six windows on its sides and one on top. The cupola resembles a circular bay window and will provide a vastly improved view of the station's exterior. The multi-directional view will allow the crew to monitor spacewalks and docking operations, as well as provide a spectacular view of Earth and other celestial objects.  The module was built in Turin, Italy, by Thales Alenia Space for the European Space Agency. (NASA)

<b>Jan. 18: </b>The crew of space shuttle Endeavour's STS-130 mission poses for a group portrait following their arrival at the Shuttle Landing Facility at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. (NASA)

July 20: Endeavour astronauts Thomas Marshburn and David Wolf float above Earth as they work on attaching spare parts to the space station. (NASA)

July 21: Two robotic arms hand off the Japanese Logistics Element as it's tranferred from Endeavour to the space station. (NASA TV)

July 20: In this image from NASA television, Endeavour astronaut David Wolf floats above Earth perched on the end of the robotic arm as he works on attaching spare parts to the space station during a spacewalk. (NASA)

July 17: Canadian astronaut Julie Payette temporarily occupies the pilot's station on space shuttle Endeavour. (NASA)

Astronaut Tim Kopra is pictured in Endeavour's cargo bay during the first of five planned spacewalks for the STS-127 crew on July 18. When the Endeavour crew returns to Earth, Kopra will stay onboard the space station to serve as flight engineer for ISS expedition duty. (NASA)

July 17: Space shuttle Endeavour after docking with the International Space Station. (NASA)

July 19: The Integrated Cargo Carrier is moved from space shuttle Endeavour's cargo bay to the International Space Station by the shuttle's Canadarm robotic arm. (NASA)

July 17: Space shuttle Endeavour approaches the International Space Station prior to docking. As part of the survey and part of every mission's activities, the STS-127 Endeavour crew performed a back-flip for the rendezvous pitch maneuver. (NASA)

July 15: Space shuttle Endeavour lifts-off from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral, Fla. Wednesday July 15, 2009. Endeavour's seven member crew are on a 16-day mission to the International Space Station.  (AP)

July 11: Space shuttle Endeavour ready for launch.