Shuttle Endeavour History

Chris B - NSF (@NASASpaceflight) Shuttle Endeavour, her complete history: Pt 1 tinyurl.com/5tpav6x  Pt 2: tinyurl.com/3hd7rpe

Assembly (Nearly) Complete | Space Exploration | Air & Space Magazine

AirSpaceMag.com
Air & Space Magazine interviewed ISS manager Mike Suffrendini. Assembly (Nearly) Complete | Space Exploration | Air & Space Magazine

Endeavour Re-rendezvous and Testing STORRM Sensors

Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) 4/21/11 8:38 AM Still finding fresh ways to use the space shuttle, NASA plans a unique rendezvous demo on Endeavour's flight. bit.ly/gSAFFC

After undocking from the ISS, Endeavour will back off from the station and then fly a "lap" around the station and reproach it as if it were going to dock. Endeavour will come about 1000 feet below and 300 feet behind the station before completing its final separation burn and returning to Earth. The purpose of this maneuver is to test the navigational and docking sensors that will be used on future NASA spaceships. The re-rendezvous is currently scheduled for 12 May, though could be up to 2 days later depending upon mission extension decisions to be made after Endeavour is in orbit next weekend. 

STS-134 Mission Timeline

Spaceflight Now (@SpaceflightNow) 4/20/11 5:16 PM Latest version of space shuttle Endeavour's mission timeline ... see detailed plan for the flight: tinyurl.com/134plan #sts134

This mission is really packed. They are trying to get as much accomplished on this mission as it is the last shuttle mission that will have EVAs. This is also the last 6-person crew. Atlantis will only have a crew of 4. With 12 hands on board, they can do a lot. There was talk yesterday of extending the mission an additional 2 days as well to further take advantage of the extra hands. 

President Obama and Family Expected to Attend STS-134 Launch

President Obama and the First Family are expected to attend the launch of Endeavour next week. This will be the first time since 1998 that a sitting president will view a manned blastoff. It is still not known if Commander Mark Kelley's wife, Rep. Gabby Giffords will get medical clearance to attend the launch.

@AstroIronMike, 4/20/11 9:09 AM

E. Michael Fincke (@AstroIronMike) 4/20/11 9:09 AM As promised. Photo from the flight deck. Wish us luck yfrog.com/h2cpepaj

Tweet from @NASAKennedy

@NASAKennedy: STS-134 Mission: Crews will perform preparations to pressurize space shuttle Endeavour's main propulsion system today.

Michael Wilkinson
Fieldston Lower Math-Science