Seven astronauts lived onboard during that eight-day mission. "Since the Endeavour has been on display here, we've only opened up the crew module probably about five times," said Ray Zink, Orbiter Move Director.Įndeavour first launched on May 7, 1992. Image Article Space shuttle Endeavour lifts off to begin its first mission, STS-49. The primary goal of its nine-day mission was to retrieve an Intelsat VI satellite, Intelsat 603, which failed to leave Low Earth orbit two years before, attach it to a new upper stage, and relaunch it to its intended geosynchronous orbit. It took days to get the orbiter from Los Angeles International Airport to its final home at the Science Center.Īnd as crews prepare to move it to the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, coming in the next few years, ABC7 got to take a special look inside. STS-49 was NASAs maiden flight of the Space Shuttle Endeavour, which launched on May 7, 1992. Ken Phillips, Curator For Aerospace Science at the California Science Center. "Endeavour flew 25 times, so 25 launches and roughly 23 million miles," said Dr. EXPOSITION PARK, LOS ANGELES (KABC) - The retired Space Shuttle Endeavour at the California Science Center in Exposition Park is in final preparations before it is moved to a permanent vertical display position.ĪBC7 this week received a special tour of the Endeavour, known by locals as the spaceship that strolled down the streets of Los Angeles in 2012 after its final mission for NASA. Follow for the latest in space science and exploration news on Twitter and on Facebook. The first launch of the space shuttle Columbia in 1981 touched off an era of flight that allowed humans to ride in the same spacecraft to space more than once. You can follow senior writer Clara Moskowitz on Twitter ClaraMoskowitz. NASA began the launch countdown Tuesday at 2 p.m. Kelly and his five crewmates arrived at Kennedy Space Center yesterday afternoon to prepare for the mission. "We're very pleased she's coming to the launch and supporting Mark and his flight."
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Its STS-67 mission set a length record almost two full days longer than any shuttle mission. Among Endeavour’s missions was the first to include four spacewalks, and then the first to include five. It was a historic mission on board were the first black woman in. "She's NASA family and we're treating her just like we do the rest of the families," Moses said. Space shuttle Endeavour has spent 19 years pushing boundaries, and its final mission will allow that legacy to live on. Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992 launched on Sept. Giffords survived a January assassination attempt when a shooter opened fire on her and others during a constituent meeting in Tucson. "We have good plans in place, we'll see how it turns out."Īnother high-profile attendee of the launch will be Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), whose husband, Mark Kelly, is commander of Endeavour's STS-134 mission.
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"You're never quite sure what the final plan is until it's done," Leinbach said. It then remained on the ground for 16 years before being used again for STS-104, STS-114 (the first return to flight mission after the loss of space shuttle Columbia in 2003) and STS. Leinbach said the Obama's visit, and all of the ensuing special arrangements necessary for his arrival and security present a bit of a challenge. (Two of those launches, 47 and 130 were with Endeavour.) The skirt that will stand with the right booster first entered service in 1985 with the launch of STS-51G. "They're all excited about the mission, the president showing up." "The team is upbeat," shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach said of the shuttle ground team. president has watched a space launch in person, and the first time the entire First Family watched a liftoff. It will be only the third time a sitting U.S. President Obama and his family intend to come watch the launch at the seaside spaceport. Endeavour will also carry up a plethora of spare supplies to help outfit the space station for the era after the space shuttles retire. Six astronauts will launch aboard Endeavour for a two-week trip to the International Space Station to deliver an astrophysics experiment to hunt for dark matter and other mysteries of the universe.