Space Shuttle Endeavour Launch

The rare night launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-123 was at 2:28 a.m. EDT on March 11. On a 16-day mission to the International Space Station the shuttle will deliver the first section of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory and the Canadian Space Agency’s two-armed robotic system, Dextre. Five spacewalks were scheduled during the flight.

The STS-123 Endeavour was commanded by Dominic Gorie. Gregory H. Johnson served as pilot. The mission specialists for the flight were Robert L. Behnken, Mike Foreman, Rick Linnehan, Garrett Reisman, and Japanese astronaut Takao Doi. Expedition 16 Flight Engineer Leopold Eyharts, who arrived at the station aboard Atlantis in February, will return to Earth with the Endeavour crew as Reisman takes his place on the station. close