Astronauts Inspect Shuttle Endeavour One Last Time
CAPE CANAVERAL (CBS4) – The crew of the space shuttle Endeavour has inspected their ship one last time.
Endeavour's crew used a long inspection boom early Thursday to check for any signs of damage. The space fliers will hand over the laser-tipped tool to the International Space Station on Friday. The pole will be attached to the orbiting lab during the fourth and final spacewalk of Endeavour's mission.
The 3-D shuttle images are being analyzed by experts on the ground. NASA wants to make sure Endeavour suffered no micrometeorite damage, before clearing the shuttle to come home next week.
On Friday, Endeavour commander Mark Kelly has a planned half-hour videoconference between him and Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. It will be the first time he's seen his wife since he rocketed into space more than a week ago. They speak daily by phone.
Giffords is recuperating in Houston from a gunshot wound to the head.
Kelly told reporters Thursday that he'll speak to Giffords from the glassed-in lookout at the International Space Station. That way, she can see Endeavour with Earth in the background.
This is the last flight of Endeavour. It will be retired to a museum in Los Angeles.
Atlantis will make the final space shuttle voyage in July.
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