Nasa has declared the Endeavour space shuttle ready to launch for the STS 127 mission to the International Space Station on 13 June 2009.

The launch date was announced following the flight readiness review that assessed the risks related to the mission, ensuring that the shuttle’s equipment, support systems and procedures are ready for launch.

The Endeavour will carry six new crew members to the space station for five spacewalks on the 16-day mission.

The mission will ensure the conmpletion of contruction on the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency’s Kibo laboratory.

The Japanese module will also be fitted with an exterior platform allowing experiments exposure to space.