Patent ID: 8040490

Claim:
A liquid immersion exposure apparatus which exposes a substrate by radiating an exposure beam onto the substrate, the liquid immersion exposure apparatus comprising: a first optical member having an exit surface via which the exposure beam exits; a first movable body which is movable with respect to the first optical member while holding the substrate; a second movable body which is movable, while holding the substrate, with respect to the first optical member independently from the first movable body; a cover member which is movable in accordance with movement of the first movable body or movement of the second movable body and which is capable of retaining a liquid in a space formed between the exit surface and the cover member when the cover member is located at a position opposite to the exit surface; a first holding portion which is provided on the first movable body and which holds the cover member during exposure for a substrate held by the first movable body; a second holding portion which is provided on the second movable body and which holds the cover member during exposure for a substrate held by the second movable body; and a transport section which removes the cover member from the first holding portion or the second holding portion and which moves the cover member independently from the first movable body or the second movable body, wherein the transport section has a holding portion which holds the cover member and a driving portion which moves the holding portion, the transport section transfers a new cover member to the first holding portion or the second holding portion before or after the transport section removes the cover member from the first holding portion or the second holding portion.