Tag: STS-126
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Endeavour returns home to KSC – review notes SRB holddown post issue
The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) has returned Endeavour to Florida on Friday, following a cross country ferry trip that has seen large crowds greet the duo in Texas and Louisiana. Meanwhile, shuttle managers have completed a post mission IFA (In Flight Anomaly) review of STS-126, with highlights including information on a holddown post issue. Large…
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Endeavour and her SCA piggyback ride arrive in Louisiana, via JSC flyover
The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA) and Endeavour departed from Edwards Air Force Base on Wednesday, for a cross country ferry trip that will take in stops in Texas and Louisiana – subject to change due to weather – before arriving back in Florida on Friday. A flyover of the Johnson Space Center was completed around…
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Supporting Endeavour – equipment and personnel shipped out to Edwards
Endeavour is receiving numerous visitors and support equipment during her Californian vacation, as post flight deservicing continues to ramp up towards a Sunday flight home to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The orbiter and SCA (Shuttle Carrier Aircraft) duo are expected back in Florida in the middle of next week, following the cross-country trip. Processing…
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Endeavour lands at Edwards to conclude STS-126
Space shuttle orbiter Endeavour has landed at the Edwards Air Force Base in California, following a hugely successful STS-126 mission to the International Space Station (ISS). She’ll now undergo initial deservicing activities at the Dryden Flight Research Facility, before a ferry trip back to the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) on top of the SCA (Shuttle…
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Endeavour heading to California for Sunday landing at Edwards Air Force Base
STS-126 marked Endeavour’s EOM-1 (End Of Mission minus one day) with checkouts of the orbiter’s vital systems that will be used during Sunday’s re-entry, and the deployment of a Picostar from Endeavour’s Payload Bay. Due to poor weather in Florida, Endeavour will head to Edwards Air Force Base for landing at 4:25pm Eastern. A…
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Endeavour undocks from a healthier ISS – heads to Late Inspections
Shuttle orbiter Endeavour has undocked from the International Space Station (ISS) on Flight Day 15 of STS-126. Endeavour and her crew depart the Station in a much healthier state than when they arrived, notably via the maintenance on the Solar Alpha Rotary Joints (SARJs), with early results showing the downstream multi-mission plan – which ends…
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Endeavour readied for Friday undocking – Thanksgiving on ISS for STS-126
With Flight Day 14 marking the STS-126 crew’s final day onboard the International Space Station (ISS), the performance of Endeavour during her docked mission has been almost issue-free mission, which has allowed the Mission Management Team (MMT) to focus their attentions on other elements of the mission. Endeavour is being put through the final requirements…
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Extensive process clearing MMOD strike on Endeavour window for re-entry
The Mission Management Team (MMT) have initially cleared a Micrometeoroid Orbital Debris (MMOD) strike to Endeavour’s window 6 (Pilot’s window), with full re-entry rationale expected. Meanwhile, Shuttle manager John Shannon praised Kennedy Space Center (KSC) engineers for an “unbelievable” vehicle. Impacts from MMOD are a usual – if not undesirable – event during missions, with…
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MMT outlines their extension day decision – EVA-4 finalizes SARJ tasks
The Mission Management Team (MMT) has decided to extend STS-126 by an additional docked day. This will allow for additional troubleshooting time on the Water Recycling System (WRS) that was carried to the Station by Endeavour. Meanwhile, EVA-4 has concluded the mission’s spacewalk tasks. Flight Day 11 focused on the fourth and final spacewalk of…
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Marathon EVA-3 builds on SARJ work – NOAX gun option explained
Spacewalkers Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper (EV1) and Steve Bowen (EV2) have completed the third of four EVAs during STS-126, once again focusing on the starboard SARJ (Solar Alpha Rotary Joint). If required, a back-up option of a modified NOAX Gun is available for the remaining EVA tasks on EVA-4 – following the loss of two grease guns during EVA-1.…