By Xinhua
Washington : National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) managers have concluded that the space shuttle Endeavour is ready to fly.
The decision was announced Thursday after NASA wrapped up a two-day flight readiness review at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Endeavour's launch for the STS-118 is officially scheduled for August 7. The exact launch time is set at 23.02 GMT, according to NASA TV.
"On behalf of all the people that work on Endeavour, both here and really across the country, it's a great, great feeling to have Endeavour back on the pad," Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach said at a news conference. "We're looking forward to a great launch."
NASA managers conduct the review two weeks prior to each space shuttle mission. The group thoroughly evaluates all activities and elements necessary for the safe and successful performance of shuttle mission operations — from the pre-launch phase through post-landing — including the readiness of the vehicle, flight crew and payloads.
The STS-118 will be NASA's second flight mission in 2007. This will be Endeavour's first flight in almost five years. The last time Endeavour was at the launch pad was in November 2002 on a construction mission to the International Space Station (ISS).
During the scheduled 11-day mission, Endeavour will carry into orbit a new truss segment, SPACEHAB module and external stowage platform 3.
NASA hopes to complete the construction of ISS before the shuttle fleet is grounded in 2010.