Longueuil, Quebec, August 8, 2007 – Canadian Space Agency Astronaut Dave Williams launched successfully aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour today at 6:36 p.m. EDT from the Kennedy Space Center.
The crew of mission STS-118 will pursue the assembly of the International Space Station with the delivery and installation of the S5 truss segment, the External Stowage Platform 3 and the replacement of a failed Control Moment Gyroscope. Four mission spacewalks are planned, with Canadian astronaut Dave Williams performing three. Once these are completed, Williams will have set a Canadian record for the number of spacewalks and hours spent outside the ISS.
Space Shuttle Endeavour during liftoff.(Photo: NASA)See the video
"Canadians are really proud of Dave Williams," said the Honourable Maxime Bernier, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for the Canadian Space Agency. "Our participation in Mission STS-118 highlights our expertise in advanced science. The International Space Station is a clear example of the power and potential of international cooperation, and serves as a model for future missions," he added.
"For Canada, space has been at the foundation of sweeping scientific and technological breakthroughs," said Laurier Boisvert, President of the Canadian Space Agency. "And this mission, with Dave Williams aboard, will be a global showcase for Canadian expertise, innovation and excellence."
Although this is his second space flight, mission STS-118 is the first visit to the station for Dave Williams and his first opportunity to perform not one, but three spacewalks. The renowned Canadarm and Canadarm2 will also be essential to this flight, as they will work hand-in-hand to transfer payloads and carry out the construction of the station elements during the mission.
Shuttle Endeavour is scheduled to dock with the Space Station on Thursday, August 9 at 9:48 p.m. Dave Williams' first spacewalk will take place the following day, Friday, August 10.
Video, animations and pictures are available at this address: ftp://ftpsts118.space.gc.ca/users/jjanu/pub/
For the latest information about Mission STS-118, visit:
Canadian Space Agency: www.space.gc.ca/sts-118
NASA: www.nasa.gov/shuttle
- 30 -
For more information, please contact:
Media Relations
Canadian Space Agency
Telephone: 450-926-4370
www.space.gc.ca
