Shuttle Endeavor Cleared for Final Launch

The second space shuttle of the last three such vehicles has been cleared by NASA to take off on its last mission on April 29. Provided nothing weather related happens until then, the final departure from the launch pad of the Endeavor is expected to go as planned and carry to the International Space Station spare parts, supplies and a $2 billion astrophysics experiment.

"The orbiter itself, Endeavour, is in great shape," Mike Moses, chair of the shuttle mission management team said according to Space.com. "We had an easy poll to say were ready to go. We're looking forward to Friday's launch."

The launch is expected to draw a huge number of fans, enthusiasts and amateurs to Florida, with estimates pointing to 750,000 people rushing in to watch the event fans like to call “their Super Bowl.” The police estimates that after the launch, the local roads will enter a four- to six-hour gridlock.

The importance of the event will be boosted by the expected presence at launch of President Obama, together with the entire First Family. "The team is upbeat," added shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach. "They're all excited about the mission, the president showing up."

The Endeavor will go on its final mission, dubbed STS-134, for the next 14 days (possibly 16, according to NASA). After it lands, it will follow the same path as the Discovery did earlier this year: it will be decommissioned, stripped of non-essential parts, and in the end shipped to a museum (in Endeavor's case, to the California Science Center in Los Angeles).