User:Tyrol5/Space Shuttle Endeavour completes final mission
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Image: NASA.
The Space Shuttle Endeavour landed for the final time Wednesday at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, wrapping up its final mission, STS-134. Landing occurred at 2:34 AM EDT (6:34 UTC).
The mission delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier-3 to the International Space Station (ISS) during its 16 day mission.
The six-member crew consists of commander Mark Kelly, pilot Greg Johnson, and mission specialists Michael Fincke, Roberto Vittori, Andrew Feustel, and Gregory Chamitoff. European Space Agency's Vittori is scheduled to be the last non-American to fly aboard the Shuttle.
NASA astronaut Mark Kelly is the husband of U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords, who was wounded in January during the 2011 Tucson shooting. Rep. Giffords witnessed the launch from the Kennedy Space Center on May 16, but was asleep in the hospital during the early morning landing, according to Kelly.
Upon landing, astronaut Barry Wilmore reflected on Endeavour's flights from Mission Control in Houston, Texas: "122 million miles flown during 25 challenging space flights, your landing ends a vibrant legacy for this amazing vehicle that will long be remembered; welcome home, Endeavour."
During the mission's stay at the ISS, the crew completed the final four spacewalks scheduled to be performed by Space Shuttle crews. During these spacewalks, the crew installed components to the exterior of the station. Space Shuttle crews performed a total of 164 spacewalks, 159 of which contributed to the maintenance and completion of the International Space Station.
While in space, NASA's Michael Fincke set a space endurance record, spending the longest total time of any American in space at 382 days. STS-134 was Fincke's third spaceflight and first on the Space Shuttle. Fincke reflected on the experience at the post-landing crew news conference, telling the press that his flight marked the achievement of a childhood dream of flying aboard the Space Shuttle.
Shuttle Endeavour, having been retired, is expected to be displayed at the Los Angeles Science Center in California.
STS-134 was the 25th and final flight of the Endeavour and the 134th of the entire Space Shuttle Program. In its operational career, Endeavour orbited the Earth 4,671 times, travelling a total of 122,883,151 miles (197,761,262 km) over 299 days in space. Endeavour's maiden flight was STS-49 in May 1992.
There is only one more mission remaining in the Space Shuttle Program, STS-135, scheduled to launch in July.
Related news
- "Space Shuttle Endeavour launches for final time" — Wikinews, May 18, 2011
Sources
- Michael Curie and Candrea Thomas. "Space Shuttle Endeavour Sails To Home Port Final Time" — NASA, June 1, 2011
- Willaim Harwood. "Endeavour ends final mission with smooth landing" — CNET, June 1, 2011
- Denise Chow. "Shuttle Endeavour's Space Finale an 'Incredible' Trip, Astronauts Say" — Space.com, June 1, 2011
