Remarks: Sitting in the commander's seat on Endeavour, this is the view of the functioning attitude directior indicator and other supporting systems. The spacecraft operators (the guys who teach the astros to fly) were extremely gracious and courteous to me by firing her up and loading a data package that made Endeavour mimic her last flight. As you can see the translational motion in all the axis,control surfaces,velocity and acceleration. A sight now preserved only in the history books.
Remarks: The last space shuttle ferry flight in progress. The space shuttle Endeavour sits on top of the shuttle carrier aircraft. This picture was taken looking straight up from ground next to the SCA. The orbiter appears as reptilian creature next to the smooth skin of the 747 SCA.
Remarks: The last space shuttle ferry flight preparation in progress. The space shuttle Endeavour is towed from her hanger to the Mate Demate Device (MDD). Here the rear attachment arms (in yellow) of the hoist on the MDD can be seen. The orbiter is passing the 747SCA that will take her to LAX.
Remarks: Space shuttle "Endeavour" on her death march to Orbiter Processing Facility #02 to be down processed at the end of the STS-134. This picture was taken as she was towed away after her final landing that occurred approx. 4 hours before. The time was needed to make her safe for the technicians to attend to her. In the OPF, the hypegols will be drained. The engines will be removed along with the reaction control pods. After 25 missions, "Endeavour" will also be "mummified" for eternity by having many other important systems removed hence you are seeing her final public moments as a fully functional spacecraft. It will be a museum artifact soon.
Remarks: Space shuttle "Endeavour" clears the lightning rod on Pad 39A at NASA-Kennedy Space Center for the very last time. At this very moment,control is passed from Launch Control at KSC to Mission Control in Houston. The gaseous clouds seen are a combination of the main engine exhausts,solid rocket booster exhausts and the water from the noise suppression system. At ignition, the SRBs release large volumes of gasses containing aluminum oxides,carbon monoxides and hydrogen chloride gas. The HCL gas combines with the water from the noise suppression system to form an acid. Hence the launch of the shuttle generates a hellish noise,heat and toxic environment as seen in the picture.
Remarks: Space shuttle Commander Mark Kelly and his five crewmates are on their way to the International Space Station after launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 8:56 a.m. EDT. The STS-134 mission is the penultimate orbiter flight and the final one for shuttle Endeavour.
As part of the orbital insertion the shuttle stack had to get into a trajectory that keeps it in low Earth orbit (LEO) by skirting the surface of the the Earth. She is flipping onto her back to get the correct attitude for the LEO orbital insertion.
Remarks: Space shuttle Commander Mark Kelly and his five crewmates are on their way to the International Space Station after launching from NASA's Kennedy Space Center at 8:56 a.m. EDT. The STS-134 mission is the penultimate orbiter flight and the final one for shuttle Endeavour.
"This mission represents the power of teamwork, commitment and exploration," Commander Mark Kelly said shortly before liftoff. "It is in the DNA of our great country to reach for the stars and explore. We must not stop. To all the millions watching today including our spouses, children, family and friends, we thank you for
your support."
Remarks: Endeavour's last launch on 04/29 was postponed because of a heater issue associated with the
shuttle's hydraulic power system. The problematic Aft Load Control Unit is located inside the avionics bay #05 whose yellow door and location is clearly seen in this picture (next the blueball NASA logo). Workers will access the unit by entering via that door while she is in the vertical position and delicately troubleshoot,replace and retest the systems.
The shuttle has three Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) that provide hydraulic power to steer the vehicle during ascent and entry. NASA launch commit criteria and flight rules require all three APUs to be fully operational for launch.
Remarks: "Endeavour's twang" at the moment of main engine start on her last night launch.I was 4 miles due south of Pad 39A and using a Canon 1Ds MKII with 1200mm L IS lens (600mm;2X). This shuttle launch phenomenon is affectionately referred to by astronauts as "the twang." When the main engines fire at T-5 seconds, the entire shuttle stack bends thanks to the instant spike of thrust. As soon as the shuttle snaps back upright, the solid rocket boosters ignite and the shuttle blasts off. As you can seen the stack has rocked forward and hence is not straight when compared to the launch pad. In a fraction of a second, the SRBs will fire and the resultant instantaneous water vapor cloud will envelop the stack and pad. On her last launch (5/16), the same events occurred except it was daylight.
Remarks: Top view of the "Space Transportation System" (Space Shuttle) which is the combination of the orbiter, the external tank, and the 2 solid rocket booster ( the orbiter itself is usually incorrectly referred to as the "Space Shuttle" when it is not). Combined, these are referred to as the "Stack". "Endeavour" sits atop the Mobile Launcher Platform (MLP) in High Bay #03 for the last time and 2 days before final rollout to launch pad 39A. The platforms that are surrounding the stack are retractable.
Remarks: It is 0400H and the 3rd shift crew has just lifted “Endeavour” off the Orbiter Transporter System (OTS). This will allow the 90 degree rotation needed to get into ET/SRB mate position. They are seen in High Bay #3 (right side) already “stacked” on top of the Mobile Launch Platform (MLP). Often missed is the dedication & absolute brilliance of the thousands of unheralded workers who carry out the very serious shuttle ops. These men & women deserve better than layoffs at the end of the program.
