NASA Kicks Off Countdown to Endeavour Trip
NASA started its three-day clock ticking Monday toward the launch of the space shuttle Endeavour with tight security at the Florida spaceport for the first shuttle launch since the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.
Endeavour will launch Thursday to deliver to the international space station a new three-member crew of Russian cosmonauts and U.S. astronauts and will return with the crew now living there.
Aboard the shuttle are 5,500 pounds of provisions and hardware, 6,000 postcard-size U.S. flags, at least two full-size flags, plus 36 Japanese quail eggs.
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