Endeavour Preparing for Launch

WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 2011
All testing of the various systems that run through the replaced Aft Load Control Assembly No. 2 power switchbox has been successfully completed. Shuttle Endeavour's aft engine compartment is being buttoned up once again in preparation for launch and the access doors on either side of the orbiter will be installed today.

The six-man astronaut crew is completing some last-minute refresher training at the Johnson Space Center. They are scheduled to arrive at the Kennedy Space Center on Thursday around 9 a.m. EDT in advance of the countdown clocks starting to tick Friday at 7 a.m.

"Heading back to Florida tomorrow. Hopefully this is it," commander Mark Kelly tweeted this afternoon.

Liftoff remains on schedule for next Monday at 8:56 a.m. EDT.

New Launch Date Set

NASA has Monday May 16 at 8:57 a.m. as the new launch date for STS-134 Shuttle Endeavour.

Repairs and testing of the faulty electrical circuits on Shuttle Endeavour were completed over the weekend.  Launch directors feel that the problems have been corrected and the necessary safety margins are once again in place to re-start the countdown to launch.

STS-134 crew returned to quarantine at Johnson Space Center (Houston, TX) on Monday. They will fly back to Kennedy Space Center (Cape Canaveral, FL) later this week. The two extra days have been locked into the mission, so there will be a 16 day schedule for STS-134. During the time that Endeavour is docked at the ISS, one of the two Soyuz capsules will undock and return to Earth, carrying Dimitry Kondratyev, Paulo Nespoly, and Cady Coleman.

For more details, watch Monday's briefing by KSC Launch Directors.

Spaceflight Now | STS-134 Shuttle Report | NASA moves Endeavour launch date to May 16

Spaceflight Now | STS-134 Shuttle Report | NASA moves Endeavour launch date to May 16: "KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FL--Launch of the shuttle Endeavour, grounded April 29 by an electrical glitch in the ship's hydraulic system, will be delayed until at least May 16 pending additional troubleshooting and repairs, NASA managers said Friday."

50th Anniversary of Alan Shepard-Friendship 7

Fifty years ago today (May 5, 1961), Alan Shepard became the first American in space.

For more information, check out NASA's tribute pages for more details. (requires flash, so won't work on iPad/iPhone/iPodTouch)

Shuttle Atlantis Rollover

@NASA: Shuttle Atlantis rollover to Vehicle Assembly Building now May 16 & rollout to pad May 23. STS-135 launch remains targeted for June 28.

Launch No Earlier than May 10

The failed control box was removed overnight from Endeavour, but some other issues have been identified that need to be investigated.

Yesterday afternoon, Shuttle and Space Station Managers met and set a possible launch date for May 10th. If Endeavour launches on the 10th, the two day extension planned for the mission will not be possible as it will conflict with the return flight of the Soyuz capsule carrying Cady Coleman, Paulo Nespoli, and Demitri Kondratyev. They are due to undock on May 22nd, and land in Kazakhstan on May 23rd.

Meanwhile, STS-134 crew will continue training exercises in Houston to keep their skills sharp. Mike Finke tweeted yesterday, "No worries-- we have plenty to study and the teams at the Cape are awesome.

The current launch window is now set for May 10 to May 12.

I will post updates as I learn more.

Shuttle Endeavour Updates from NASA

Keep track of the repair work on space shuttle Endeavour - and more: http://www.nasa.gov/shuttle