Space Shuttle Endeavour OV-105

History

Space Shuttle Endeavour, Orbiter Vehicle OV-105, was the fifth and final operational orbiter built for NASA's Space Shuttle program. It was constructed as a replacement for Challenger after the loss of that orbiter in 1986.

Endeavour completed 25 space missions between its first flight in May 1992 and its final mission in May 2011. Its assignments included satellite recovery, the first servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, scientific research, and assembly and support work for the International Space Station.

The orbiter incorporated several improvements introduced during its construction, including updated steering mechanisms, upgraded plumbing and electrical connections for longer missions, and a drag chute intended to reduce wear on its brakes and tires. Several features developed for Endeavour were later incorporated into other orbiters.

Development and construction

The United States Congress approved construction of a replacement orbiter in 1987. NASA chose to assemble the new spacecraft partly from structural spares produced during construction of Discovery and Atlantis rather than convert the prototype orbiter Enterprise. Assembly was completed in July 1990, the orbiter was rolled out in April 1991, and Rockwell International Space Transportation Systems Division delivered it in May 1991.

The name Endeavour was selected following a national competition involving schools. The name refers to HMS Endeavour, the research vessel associated with James Cook's first voyage of discovery. The British spelling was retained.

First missions

Endeavour first launched on May 7, 1992, for STS-49. The mission's primary objective was to capture, repair, and redeploy the stranded INTELSAT VI communications satellite. The crew ultimately captured the satellite by hand. The mission involved four spacewalks, then the highest number performed during a single shuttle mission.

In December 1993, Endeavour flew STS-61, the first servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. Astronauts installed equipment intended to correct the effects of the telescope's flawed primary mirror and carried out other servicing work.

STS-69

On September 7, 1995, Endeavour launched from Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center on STS-69. The flight was described as NASA's 100th successful crewed spaceflight mission. The five-person crew consisted of commander David Walker, pilot Kenneth Cockrell, payload commander James Voss, and mission specialists James Newman and Michael Gernhardt.

During the 11-day mission, the crew deployed and retrieved the Spartan 201-03 satellite, which studied the Sun's outer atmosphere as it transitioned into the solar wind. The crew also operated the Wake Shield Facility-2, a free-flying stainless-steel disk designed to create an ultrahigh-vacuum environment for growing thin films. The Wake Shield Facility was deployed twice and produced four of seven planned thin films.

STS-69 was the first shuttle mission in which two different payloads were both deployed and retrieved. Voss and Gernhardt also performed a spacewalk lasting 6 hours and 46 minutes. They tested thermal improvements to extravehicular activity suits and tools and techniques intended to support future assembly of the International Space Station.

International Space Station missions

Endeavour later became an important participant in International Space Station construction. On STS-88 in December 1998, its crew delivered Unity, the first U.S. component added to the station. On STS-100, Endeavour carried the Canadarm2 robotic system. During STS-123, it delivered the first element of Japan's Kibo laboratory and the Dextre robotic manipulator.

Endeavour underwent a major modification period from December 2003 until October 2005. Upgrades included a multifunction electronic display system commonly described as a glass cockpit, an advanced GPS receiver, and safety changes introduced after the Columbia accident.

Final flight and retirement

Endeavour's 25th and final mission was STS-134 in May 2011. The mission delivered equipment and spare parts to the International Space Station. After retirement, NASA assigned the orbiter to the California Science Center in Los Angeles. More information about the preserved spacecraft is available from the California Science Center.

Design

Endeavour was an orbiter within NASA's reusable Space Transportation System. The orbiter carried the crew and payloads and incorporated the Space Shuttle Main Engines. During launch, it operated as part of a complete shuttle stack with two solid rocket boosters and an external propellant tank. The boosters and orbiter were reusable, while the external tank was expended during each mission.

Endeavour was built using experience gained from earlier orbiters and included several features that were new to the fleet when it was constructed. These included updated steering mechanisms, modified plumbing and electrical connections to support longer missions, and a landing drag chute. Later upgrades included electronic cockpit displays and GPS equipment.

Operational history

Across 25 missions, Endeavour supported satellite operations, astronomy, microgravity research, and construction of the International Space Station. Its notable flights included STS-49, which recovered and redeployed INTELSAT VI; STS-61, the first Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission; STS-69, NASA's 100th successful crewed spaceflight; and several major ISS assembly missions.

The NASA Space Shuttle archive documents the wider Space Shuttle program in which Endeavour operated.

Specifications (Endeavour OV-105)

General characteristics

• Length: 37.2 m
• Wingspan: 23.8 m
• Height: 17.3 m
• Launch mass: approximately 109,000 kg
• Maximum crew capacity: 7

Performance

• Maximum orbital speed: approximately 28,000 km/h

Related equipment

• Space Shuttle Challenger: Endeavour was authorized and built as its replacement following Challenger's loss in 1986.
• Space Shuttle Discovery and Atlantis: structural spares produced during construction of these orbiters were used in assembling Endeavour.