Tag: STS-134
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Endeavour preparing for the trip home – TPS clearance overview
After nearly 12 days of docked operations with Space Station Alpha, the Space Shuttle Endeavour, NASA youngest Shuttle orbiter, departed the international outpost to begin her final journey home. Thanks to the superb work by her flight crew and her thousands of support staff on terra firma, Endeavour’s Thermal Protection System (TPS) was formally cleared…
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STS-134 Endeavour kicks up a STORRM during final farewell to ISS
Concluding a highly successful docked mission for STS-134, Endeavour and her crew undocked at 22:55 Central on Sunday, ahead of a busy and prolonged farewell to the Station which she was heavily involved in building. It involves nearly five hours of work until Endeavour’s final separation burn, as she performed a debut manuever specific to…
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The FINAL Space Shuttle Spacewalk: STS-134 EVA-4 – Completed
As Endeavour heads into the sunset portion of her historic final voyage to space, her crew have completed one of the biggest lasts in the Shuttle Program: the 162nd and FINAL Space Shuttle spacewalk. This historic day concluded all scheduled EVA activities for the Space Shuttle Program and its astronauts since EVAs on Shuttle missions began…
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STS-134: Endeavour completes Docked Late Inspections for OBSS handover
As the historic milestones continue to come thick and fast, Endeavour was put through her final inspections via the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS), ahead of presenting it to the International Space Station (ISS) as a farewell gift. The results of the scans – which focus on her Reinforced Carbon Carbon (RCC) panels – will…
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STS-134: EVA-3 debuts ISLE – MMT opt against mission extension
STS-134 Spacewalkers Drew Feustel and Mike Fincke have marked a historic first – surrounding their EVA-3 consisting of FGB Power Data Grapple Fixture work, Y-Jumper installations, and cable tasks – as they debuted a new campout procedure called the In-Suit Light Exercise (ISLE) EVA Pre-Breathe Protocol. Meanwhile, the Mission Management Team (MMT) decided not to…
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Soyuz TMA-20 captures historic photography prior to perfect landing
The Russian Soyuz TMA-20 spacecraft, also known by its US designation of 25S, departed from the International Space Station (ISS) on Monday after five months on-orbit. Prior to a successful landing, Soyuz TMA-20 participated in a unique and historical event to photograph the ISS while the Space Shuttle Endeavour is docked to the complex, providing…
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STS-134: Focused Inspection clears TPS – Pope blesses the crews
Following the decision made by the Mission Management Team (MMT) to press ahead with a Focused Inspection (FI) on one area of Thermal Protection System (TPS) damage located on Endeavour’s belly, the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS) was used to gain imagery which has successfully allowed managers to clear the vehicle for entry. Later on Flight Day…
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STS-134: EVA-1 complete – Focused Inspection confirmed on TPS damage
Endeavour’s flight crew have completed the mission’s first EVA, focusing on MISSE experiment swap outs and ammonia jumper line installations. Meanwhile, engineers on the ground poured over imagery data from FD-3’s RPM (R-bar Pitch Maneuver) which helped engineers identify a debris impact area on Endeavour which will require a Focused Inspection (FI) during FD-6 (Saturday). EVA-1/FD-5…
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Exceptional Endeavour marks U.S. Assembly Complete on Station
As Endeavour works through Flight Day 4 (FD4), the historic milestone of delivering and attaching the final component for the U.S. segment of the ISS has been completed, with the installation of the premiere scientific experiment to the Station: the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer 2. Meanwhile, Endeavour performed above and beyond expectations during her triumphant final ascent to space…
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STS-134: NASA managers reviewing Endeavour’s TPS dings
The STS-134 crew have completed the installation of ExPRESS Logistics Carrier -3 (ELC-3) to round up a busy Flight Day 3, which opened the docked phase of the mission. Meanwhile, the Damage Assessment Team (DAT) are carrying out a Focused Inspection (FI) review of the additional imagery gained during Endeavour’s R-Bar Pitch Manuever (RPM), which…