But it is Endeavour's symbolic cargo that adds an emotional lift to an otherwise routine space station mission.

Packed away in the shuttle's crew cabin will be 6,000 four-inch by six-inch American flags. After the flight, the flags will be presented to the families of those who lost their lives in the Sept. 11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

A large American flag that was flying at the World Trade Center that day and later recovered nearly intact also is on board the shuttle, along with a Marine Corps flag rescued from the Pentagon and an American flag that was flying above the Pennsylvania state capitol building on Sept. 11. The latter is on board to honor those who died preventing one jet from hitting its target.

The World Trade Center flag was found in the debris of the twin towers after they collapsed. It is remarkably intact.

"It has two small tears and you could smell the strong aroma of ashes," Gorie said. "It's a very, very strong symbol that this flag survived. It's going to fly to the highest place that we can fly it. We're going to give it a really great ride and it's not going to take much to return it to is former beautiful state and it'll fly again someday."

Along with the flags, the shuttle is carrying 23 New York City police badges, 91 police patches, one large New York Fire Department flag and a poster with pictures of all the fire fighters who died in the attack.

"The space shuttle is more than a symbol of our strength and our unity and our vision in this country," Gorie said. "When people look at a space shuttle launch, they think of that with very, very strong emotions. So I think anything we can take that might commemorate the memory of the people who lost their lives is significant."

The "Flags for Heroes and Families" campaign was announced Oct. 11 by then-NASA Administrator Daniel Goldin.

It is a "way for us to honor and show our support for the thousands of brave men and women who have selflessly contributed to the relief and recovery efforts," Goldin said. "The American flags are a patriotic symbol of our strength and solidarity and our Nation's resolve to prevail."

The flags and other mementos will remain packed away during Endeavour's flight, but the combined shuttle and space station crews plan to stage a ceremony of some sort to mark the occasion. And then it will be back to work.

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