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| Endeavour launch postponed again | Endeavour launch postponed again |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The launch of the US space shuttle Endeavour has been postponed for a fourth time, because of thunder storms in the area. | The launch of the US space shuttle Endeavour has been postponed for a fourth time, because of thunder storms in the area. |
| The decision was made only minutes before the shuttle was due to take off from Cape Canaveral in Florida. | The decision was made only minutes before the shuttle was due to take off from Cape Canaveral in Florida. |
| An earlier launch was called off after Nasa investigated lightning strikes around the launch pad while two were scrapped in June over hydrogen leaks. | An earlier launch was called off after Nasa investigated lightning strikes around the launch pad while two were scrapped in June over hydrogen leaks. |
| The launch has been rescheduled for 1851 local time (2251 GMT) on Monday. | The launch has been rescheduled for 1851 local time (2251 GMT) on Monday. |
| "Looks like the team is ready but the weather is not. At this time we are no-go," said Nasa's launch director, Pete Nickolenko. | "Looks like the team is ready but the weather is not. At this time we are no-go," said Nasa's launch director, Pete Nickolenko. |
| The lift-off had been scheduled for 1913 local time (2313 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, some 24 hours later than planned. | The lift-off had been scheduled for 1913 local time (2313 GMT) from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, some 24 hours later than planned. |
| Forecasters had said there was only a 30% chance of a weather-related delay. | Forecasters had said there was only a 30% chance of a weather-related delay. |
| It came after engineers spent Saturday checking over the shuttle's critical systems to ensure that there was no damage. | It came after engineers spent Saturday checking over the shuttle's critical systems to ensure that there was no damage. |
| Experts said they found no damage to the shuttle or electrical systems after lightning struck 11 times near the launch pad at Cape Canaveral on Friday. | Experts said they found no damage to the shuttle or electrical systems after lightning struck 11 times near the launch pad at Cape Canaveral on Friday. |
| Two previous launch attempts in June were scrapped because of a potentially hazardous leak in a hydrogen vent line. | Two previous launch attempts in June were scrapped because of a potentially hazardous leak in a hydrogen vent line. |
| The crew is set to install an external platform on Japan's space station lab. | The crew is set to install an external platform on Japan's space station lab. |
| Nasa technicians have filled the ship with 500,000 gallons (1.9 million litres) of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen for the eight-and-a-half-minute ride into orbit. | Nasa technicians have filled the ship with 500,000 gallons (1.9 million litres) of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen for the eight-and-a-half-minute ride into orbit. |
| New experiments | New experiments |
| Endeavour is taking a seven-strong crew into space, made up of six Americans and one Canadian - Julie Payette - who will operate the shuttle's robotic arm during the mission. | Endeavour is taking a seven-strong crew into space, made up of six Americans and one Canadian - Julie Payette - who will operate the shuttle's robotic arm during the mission. |
| Their arrival will bring the total crew on the outpost to 13 - a record for the ISS. | Their arrival will bring the total crew on the outpost to 13 - a record for the ISS. |
| The shuttle itself was not hit by the lightning strikes | The shuttle itself was not hit by the lightning strikes |
| During five spacewalks, a platform will be added to the Japanese lab complex, which can be used for experiments that require materials to be exposed to the harsh environment of space. | During five spacewalks, a platform will be added to the Japanese lab complex, which can be used for experiments that require materials to be exposed to the harsh environment of space. |
| In addition, Endeavour will deliver a new long-stay US crew member, Tim Kopra, to the ISS and bring back Japan's Koichi Wakata, who has lived aboard the platform for more than three months. | In addition, Endeavour will deliver a new long-stay US crew member, Tim Kopra, to the ISS and bring back Japan's Koichi Wakata, who has lived aboard the platform for more than three months. |
| The space station, now about the size of a four-bedroom house, has been under construction for more than a decade. | The space station, now about the size of a four-bedroom house, has been under construction for more than a decade. |
| When it launches, Endeavour will make the 127th space shuttle flight, and the 29th to the station. | When it launches, Endeavour will make the 127th space shuttle flight, and the 29th to the station. |
| Seven further flights to the station remain before the shuttles retire in 2010. | Seven further flights to the station remain before the shuttles retire in 2010. |