STS-134 Shuttle Mission to the International Space Station Launches Monday 16th @ 13:56 BST

Cosimo · 17 Apr 2011 at 13:44

EDIT: Endeavour will now launch on Monday, May 16 at 13:56 BST (08:56 EDT).

Coming up on the Royal Wedding bank holiday:

Endeavour’s 14-day mission will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS) to the International Space Station. AMS, a particle physics detector, is designed to search for various types of unusual matter by measuring cosmic rays. Its experiments are designed to help researchers study the formation of the universe and search for evidence of dark matter, strange matter and antimatter. Endeavour also will fly the Expedite the Processing of Experiment to Space Station (Express) Logistics Carrier 3 (ELC-3), a platform that carries spare parts that will sustain space station operations once the shuttles are retired from service. The mission will feature four spacewalks to do maintenance work and install new components. These are the last scheduled spacewalks by shuttle crew members. Shuttle mission STS-134 is the final flight for Endeavour and the second to last flight for the Space Shuttle Program.

I’m sure that many of you will want to watch this. Scheduled for launch at 20:47 BST on Friday 29th of April (15:47 EDT).

Here is where to watch it:

The new NASA TV link

NASA TV in HD on UStream

The Spaceflight Now link

Another 1200kbps stream

STS-134: Interactive Mission Timeline

STS-134: Mission Summary

STS-134: Endeavour Fact Sheet

STS-134: Mission Press Kit

Cosimo · 17 Apr 2011 at 14:24

VaderDSL said:
Is this the revised launch date to avoid the Soyuz launch? Not sure if it's already launched.

It is the revised date (was planned for 19th) for STS-134 launch. Progress 41P will leave the ISS on the 22nd and Progress 42P will be launching on the 27th and arriving on the 29th. STS-134 will dock with ISS on the 1st of May so avoiding the Russian traffic.

Cosimo · 17 Apr 2011 at 15:52

A little bit of history:

Cosimo · 18 Apr 2011 at 15:20

While we wait for tomorrow’s press conference let’s go back to Endeavour's maiden flight, STS-49 all the back to 1992.

Departure for Kennedy May 2, 1991:

Lift-off, May 7, 1992:

Capturing INTELSAT VI:

Cosimo · 19 Apr 2011 at 14:34

Today’s snippet is the Endeavour Tribute:

The space shuttle Endeavour orbiter tribute, or OV-105, hangs in Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. It features Endeavour soaring into orbit above the sailing vessel HMS Endeavour for which it was named. The Cupola, delivered to the International Space Station by Endeavour on STS-130, frames various images that represent the processing and execution of the Space Shuttle Program. Clockwise from top, are the first-ever use of a drag chute during the STS-49 landing, rollout to a launch pad, a ferry flight return to Kennedy, rolling into an orbiter processing facility, docking to the International Space Station, and lifting operations before being mated to an external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters in the Vehicle Assembly Building. The background image was captured by the Hubble Space Telescope and signifies the first shuttle servicing mission, which was performed by Endeavour's STS-61 crew. Crew-designed patches from Endeavour’s maiden voyage through its final mission are shown ascending toward the stars. Five orbiter tributes are on display in the firing room, representing Atlantis, Challenger, Columbia, Endeavour and Discovery.

Graphic design credit: NASA/Amy Lombardo

See the full size image.

Cosimo · 20 Apr 2011 at 15:03

We knew it but official confirmation that we are go for Friday week:

More history, STS-61 with Endeavour on the first Hubble space telescope servicing mission in 1993:

Cosimo · 22 Apr 2011 at 18:10

More Endeavour history. On STS-126 Endeavour had to land at Edwards Air Force Base due to bad weather. Here is the return journey to Kennedy Space Center:

Cosimo · 24 Apr 2011 at 12:35

Back in time again with Endeavour, STS-67, going to the pad, Feb 8, 1995:

STS-126, at the pad, Nov 14, 2008:

Cosimo · 25 Apr 2011 at 13:22

Back to the present (March) and Endeavour is lowered into place where it is being attached to its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters in the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building):

An overview of STS-134's payload, the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) and the mission:

Today will see the closure of the payload doors. The crew will arrive at Kennedy tomorrow and the launch countdown clock will start at 19:00 BST (14:00 EDT).

(Note: the mission press kit has been added to post #1)

Cosimo · 26 Apr 2011 at 19:00

Another one of Endeavour in the VAB being readied for attachment to its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters:

Endeavour’s final ride to Launch Pad 39A:

Endeavour, its payload and crew are now ready for launch. The first weather outlook has been given and there is an 80% probability of good weather for Friday’s launch. There is a chance that windy weather (crosswinds) may interfere with the launch. The launch countdown clock started at 19:00 BST.

Cosimo · 26 Apr 2011 at 19:37

ScarySquirrel said:
Ok, perhaps I'm being stupid, but I thought we'd had the last ever Shuttle launch, didn't they cease the programme due to the new programme, the name of which I cannot remember?

Obama scrapped funding for the Constellation project and with it the return to the moon by a new policy. There a few threads about it. The following are worth looking at:

National Space Policy of the United States of America

2011 NASA Strategic Plan

The last shuttle mission, STS-135 (Atlantis) is due in June. The life of the ISS has been extended to 2020 or beyond.

Cosimo · 26 Apr 2011 at 21:44

VaderDSL said:
Ah have they received funding for STS-135? I think I heard at some point, most likely last year that funding had yet to be confirmed.

NASA was trying to scrape together funding for the mission until last week when the federal budget got approved. NASA now has a budget through to the end of September and that includes funding for STS-135.

Cosimo · 27 Apr 2011 at 15:42

Endeavour following arrival at Launch Pad 39A:

Now this would be a good job, up close and personal:

We are still all "Go" for the Friday launch.

Cosimo · 27 Apr 2011 at 16:15

Metalface Mark said:
When you see that picture it puts it into perspective just how huge the Saturn V was in comparison.

Huge was the word for it:

The Shuttle and Saturn V outside the VAB

Cosimo · 28 Apr 2011 at 12:00

Ok, the last blasts from the past. STS-88 in the VAB:

and launch on the first shuttle mission to the ISS in December 1988:

Back to the present.

Very little to add this morning apart from the news that the Mission Management Team has given a unanimous "Go" for launch on Friday. There are no significant issues and the forecast remains at 80% favourable conditions for launch.

Cosimo · 28 Apr 2011 at 14:02

Metalface Mark said:
SM - do you know when the shuttles are moving to their new homes? Im going to LA end of June, Endevour is going to the science centre there, im going to go anyway as they have the Apollo-Soyuz command module and Pete Conrad and Dick Gordon's Gemini capsule (11 i think), but it would be fantastic for the shuttle to be there (albeit i think it will come too soon )

There are no firm dates but I have seen reports that the shuttles will be ready for shipment to their display sites by mid-2012. So you are going to be out of luck.

Cosimo · 29 Apr 2011 at 13:13

Endeavour on the pad last night as a storm passed by:

Tanking is now underway and the forecast is at 70% favourable conditions for launch today.

Cosimo · 29 Apr 2011 at 14:34

An OMS pressure issue has been resolved, tanking is complete and we are now into “T-3 hours and holding”.

Cosimo · 29 Apr 2011 at 16:44

AmTechFox said:
Sim where is a good source to watch past launches in HD? Know any?

Have a look at post #1.

Cosimo · 29 Apr 2011 at 17:19

Mission scrubbed for at least 48 hours.