NASA146;s Endeavour set for launch from Florida

Florida8217;s weather, often marked by afternoon thunderstorms during the state8217;s steamy summer, was expected to cooperate, with an 80 percent chance of clear skies for the launch, NASA said.

Endeavour has not flown since before the February 1, 2003, Columbia disaster, in which seven astronauts were killed when their spacecraft disintegrated on re-entry into the atmosphere.

The primary purpose of Endeavour8217;s flight, which is the 119th in the shuttle program, is to deliver and install a new beam for the station8217;s main support structure, replace a faulty gyroscope needed to keep the outpost positioned properly in orbit, and deliver supplies.

But it is the crew that has fallen under the spotlight, partly because the five-man, two-woman team includes former elementary school teacher Barbara Morgan.