Endeavour Payload Scheduled for Friday Installation

This week at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, crews at Launch Pad 39A continue preparations to install the payload into space shuttle Endeavour's cargo bay.

After the rotating service structure was extended yesterday morning, the payload changeout room main doors and Endeavour's payload bay doors were opened, allowing access for spacecraft and payload inspections. Installation of the payload is scheduled for Friday.

Space shuttle program managers, STS-134 mission managers and Endeavour's six astronauts will hold preflight briefings today from NASA's Johnson Space Center in Texas. The briefings will be shown live on NASA TV (www.nasa.gov/ntv).

Launch of Endeavour on the STS-134 mission to the International Space Station is targeted for 7:48 p.m. EDT April 19.