KSC-2010-1690

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - NASA managers participate in a news conference in the Press Site auditorium at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida following the successful launch of space shuttle Endeavour. From left are Bill Gerstenmaier, associate administrator for Space Operations; Jean-Jacques Dordain, European Space Agency director general; Mike Moses, shuttle launch integration manager; and Mike Leinbach, shuttle launch director. Launch of the STS-130 mission to the International Space Station was at 4:14 a.m. EST. This was the second launch attempt for space shuttle Endeavour's STS-130 crew and the final scheduled space shuttle night launch. The first attempt on Feb. 7 was scrubbed due to unfavorable weather. The primary payload for the STS-130 mission to the International Space Station is the Tranquility node, a pressurized module that will provide additional room for crew members and many of the station's life support and environmental control systems. Attached to one end of Tranquility is a cupola, a unique work area with six windows on its sides and one on top. The cupola resembles a circular bay window and will provide a vastly improved view of the station's exterior. The multi-directional view will allow the crew to monitor spacewalks and docking operations, as well as provide a spectacular view of Earth and other celestial objects. The module was built in Turin, Italy, by Thales Alenia Space for the European Space Agency. For information on the STS-130 mission and crew, visit http:__www.nasa.gov_mission_pages_shuttle_shuttlemissions_sts130_index.html. Photo credit: Photo credit: NASA_Kim Shiflett