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.
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!
NASA’s space shuttle Endeavour has ended its 19 year career after completing a perfect landing at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, touching down at KSC at 02:34 (and 51sec) EDT (06:34 GMT/ 07:34 BST).
“Your landing ends a vibrant legacy for this amazing vehicle that will long be remembered. Welcome home, Endeavour,” Mission Control congratulated the crew on landing. Commander Mark Kelly replied “It’s sad to see her land for the last time, but she really has a great legacy”.
Endeavour came in for touch-down at night at the Kennedy Space Center - Credit: NASA/Chuck Tintera
Endeavour was the youngest orbiter in the fleet, constructed as a replacement for Challenger which was destroyed on launch in 1986.
Making its maiden flight on 7th May, 1992, today saw the completion of its 25th and final mission, having spent a total of 299 days in orbit and travelling more than 197.6 million kilometres (122.8 million miles) in the process.
And it was fitting that as one shuttle was landing another had been moved to the launchpad for the last ever mission, with Atlantis STS-135 due for launch on Friday 8th July.
Endeavour crew pose for photographs - Credit: NASA TV
The STS-134 astronauts from left, ESA’s Roberto Vittori, Gregory H. Johnson (Pilot), Mark Kelly (Commander), Michael Fincke, Greg Chamitoff, and Andrew Feustel (mission specialists).
“We are very proud of Endeavour’s legacy, and this penultimate flight of the space shuttle programme once again demonstrated the amazing skill and dedication of our astronauts and the entire workforce,” Nasa Administrator Charles Bolden said in a statement soon after landing.
The iconic space shuttle Endeavour (STS-134) is soon to begin her final approach for re-entry and landing, due for touchdown at Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 02:35 EDT (06:35 GMT/ 07:35 BST) Wednesday 1st June. NASA TV will be following the landing so watch below or click here for the direct feed!
The de-orbit burn is scheduled for 01:29 EDT (05:29 GMT/ 06:29 BST) and footage will continue through landing and after. The post-landing news conference is usually around 2 hours after touchdown, and repeats will be screened throughout the morning.
As the penultimate shuttle landing ever this is an historic event. The final shuttle mission (STS-135) is currently a go for launch on 8th July, and Atlantis is leaving the VAB (Vehicle Assembly Building) to travel to launchpad 39a this evening atop the massive “Crawler“.
Atlantis on top of "The Crawler" (STS-117) - Credit: NASA (Click to enlarge)
When decommissioned Endeavour will be placed in the California Science Center in Los Angeles on permanent display.
Endeavour facts:
Named after the ship commanded by British explorer James Cook from 1769 to 1771
Endeavour was the last orbiter built and flew its maiden voyage on 7th May 1992
Made the first American ISS construction flight, delivering the Unity Module
Carried out the mission to correct the Hubble Space Telescope’s flawed vision
Its radar map of the planet is one of the most used Earth-observation data-sets ever acquired
Total space time before its final mission: 280 days; Total Earth orbits: 4,429; Individual crew members: 133
