![space shuttle endeavour crew space shuttle endeavour crew](https://californiasciencecenter.org/sites/default/files/images/2020-12/NASA_KimShiflett_KSC-2011-3541_orig.jpg)
When the urine recycling system was installed, only to shut down four times, the astronauts tried different fixes until they got it working.14.įor all the challenges and headaches, these are some of the STS-126 Mission accomplishments: That successful Endeavour landing yesterday capped a very long 16-day mission covering 6.6 million miles, 11 of those days with the shuttle orbiter vehicle docked to the space station, a long journey that began with liftoff from Kennedy Launch Pad 39A Nov. That STS-127 Mission targeted for May 15 will see Endeavour launch from Kennedy to deliver the exposed facility of Japan’s Kibo laboratory to the International Space Station, where experiments can easily be left outside in space by astronauts remaining inside the station. The shuttle in seven to 10 days will have to be loaded atop a heavily modified 747 jumbo jet for a 2,500-mile piggyback ride back to Kennedy, where it will be prepared for its next flight, probably in May. There is no opportunity at landing to go around for a second try.īut the West Coast landing will mean an added multi-million-dollar expense that NASA, in tight budget times, doesn’t need. Weather problems at Kennedy Space Center forced Endeavour to divert its landing to Edward Air Force Base, Calif.Īnd as always, the landing was perfect - as it must be, since the shuttle that has an awesome 37 million horsepower gigantic thrust during ascent to space, has zero power coming back, essentially as a multi-ton glider.
![space shuttle endeavour crew space shuttle endeavour crew](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2007/08/space_450.jpg)
The final problem they faced was unavoidable, and one NASA couldn’t solve for them.