Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-123 is set to launch Tuesday, March 11, 2008 from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Get tickets here

Authorization to construct the fifth Space Shuttle orbiter as a replacement for Challenger was granted by Congress on August 1, 1987. Endeavour (OV-105) first arrived at KSC’s Shuttle Landing Facility May 7,1991, atop NASA’s new Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (NASA 911). The space agency’s newest orbiter began flight operations in 1992 on mission STS-49, the Intelsat VI repair mission.

STS-123 Payload: Kibo Logistics Module, Dextre Robotics System

Image above: This illustration depicts the International Space Station’s configuration after the STS-123 crew delivers and installs new hardware.

Credit: NASA