2011 saw the final missions fly of NASA’s iconic space shuttle program, so we were spoiled with fantastic images througout every stage of each mission.
One such dramatic image is the choice for our astronomy advent calendar count-down for today.
Day 8
Astronomy Advent Calendar 8th December - Not usually the sort of thing NASA want to see the day before launch! (click to enlarge) - Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
This amazing shot of Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Pad 39A was taken on 28th April 2011, the day before the original scheduled launch of the shuttle Endeavour on the STS-134 mission.
The shuttle was fine, however a fault detected in a fuel heater in Auxiliary Power Unit No. 1 eventually meant the launch was pushed back until 16th May. The primary payload on this mission was the AMS-02 Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer particle detector, which was mounted to the ISS.
Its main goal is helping us in understanding of the origin of the Universe, by searching for antimatter, dark matter and measuring cosmic rays.
Here’s the next image in our astro advent calendar count-down, highlighting our favourite pictures posted here throughout 2011!
Day 2
Astronomy Advent Calendar 2nd December - Endeavour straddling the stratosphere and mesosphere (click to enlarge) - Credit: NASA
This image of NASA’s Shuttle Endeavour was photographed by an Expedition 22 crew member prior to STS-130 docking with the International Space Station in February 2010.
The iconic silhouette of the shuttle against such a striking background is pretty cool
Ask people what two things first spring to mind when thinking about space, and you’ll often hear “Star Trek” and “the Space Shuttle”. Tentatively linked together from the very beginning, NASA even renamed its shuttle prototype “Enterprise” with the whole Trek cast visiting for the unveiling.
Back in April we linked to a short NASA mini-documentary narrated by Captain Kirk himself, William Shatner, and now in celebration of the shuttle program that has spanned 30 years, NASA have released a full length documentary again voiced by Bill.
At 1 hour 20 minutes long, it is a detailed and inspiring look at everything that went into making the shuttle program the success it has been.
Humanity will never forget the contribution the shuttle and its dedicated team of thousands have made to space exploration, and to science in general. There have been triumphs and tragedies, but with Atlantis soon to fly the final shuttle flight (scheduled for launch Friday 8th July 11:26 EDT (15:26 GMT/16:26 BST)) this film is a fitting tribute to such an iconic machine.
Even in the narration you can hear the respect and admiration for the program that William Shatner shares with all of us.
This may be the end for NASA’s space shuttle program, but in the words of STS-1 Astronaut John Young, after landing the orbiter Columbia at Edwards Airforce Base for the first time…
When Expedition 27 crew members Dmitry Kondratyev, Cady Coleman and Paolo Nespoli left the ISS aboard their Soyuz capsule, they paused briefly so ESA astronaut Nespoli could take the first ever images of a shuttle docked to the station from space.
NASA today has published some of the iconic and historic images he photographed.
Docked together 220 miles above the Earth, STS-134 Endeavour and the ISS (Click to enlarge) - Credit: NASA
Paolo Nespoli took the images from a departing Soyuz spacecraft on 23rd May 2011 (Click to enlarge) - Credit: NASA
The ISS moved 120° to give Nespoli the best view for the images (Click to enlarge) - Credit: NASA
NASA officials said these spacecraft “family portrait” images serve as a reminder of the contributions the shuttle program made to the construction of the International Space Station. The 100 billion dollar station began assembly in 1998 with the Russian module Zarya, and then a certain orbiter called Endeavour (STS-88) took the first US built section (the Unity Module) into orbit the same year.
Fitting then that these images should feature the orbiter that helped start it all! Striking photographs, and worth the wait!
The NASA gallery page features several more photographs, take a look here, they’re awesome!
We know how many of you found our blog due to our pretty comprehensive (if we say so ourselves!) coverage of NASA’s STS-134 mission, so we had to share this beautifully put together video with you.
It serves as good as any tribute to Endeavour as you are likely to see, in an emotionally stirring and awe inspiring showcase of human ingenuity.
To us, a lot of the images you’ll see are virtually art. Shots that capture the grace and beauty of the orbiter along with the intense savagery and power expelled in sending the craft into space during ascent.
It remembers all the STS missions Endeavour has undertaken, and has a musical score that perfectly intensifies the images. We love it!
Farewell Endeavour, it’s been a pleasure watching you go where most of us can only dream of!
