NASA’s space shuttle Endeavour docked with the International Space Station (ISS) at 23:06 CST on Tuesday 9 February, towards the end of day 2 of mission STS-130. Endeavour’s primary payload on this mission consists of a third connecting module for the station, the Tranquility node, and a seven-windowed cupola which will be used as a control room for robotics, intended to increase human understanding of our planet.

STS-130, the 32nd shuttle mission to the ISS, is led by Commander George Zamka and piloted by Terry Virts. Endeavour’s launch at 3:14 CST on Monday was NASA’s last ever scheduled space shuttle night launch.

The mission is scheduled to last for a total of 14 days from launch to landing back at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Image: Space shuttle Endeavour emerges from behind its exhaust plume as it
lifts off from Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center at 4:14 a.m. EST, 8 Feb 2010. (NASA/ Kenny Allen)

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