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Photo Credit: Nasa
With commander Chris Ferguson and pilot Eric Boe at the controls, space shuttle Endeavour descended to a smooth landing at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The STS-126 crew members concluded their successful mission to the International Space Station when the shuttle touched down at 9:25 p.m. GMT.

Endeavour arrived at the station Nov. 16, delivering equipment that will help allow the station to double its crew size to six. In addition, the STS-126 astronauts delivered Expedition 18 Flight Engineer Sandra Magnus, who replaced Greg Chamitoff, now a mission specialist who returned to Earth aboard Endeavour.

STS-126 is the 124th shuttle mission and 27th shuttle flight to visit the space station.

Landed:
Sun., Nov. 30, 2008, 9:25 p.m. GMT
Landing Site:
Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
Mission Elapsed Time:
15 days, 20 hours, 29 minutes, 37 secs

Official Landing Times
 Main gear touchdown:
9:25:06 p.m. GMT
 Nose gear touchdown:
9:25:21 p.m. GMT
 Wheels stop:
9:26:03p.m. GMT
 Total miles:
6.6 million

STS 126 Mission Overview

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Third Landing Opportunity at Edwards(30 November 2008)

Photo Credit: Nasa
Weather conditions forced flight controllers to pass on Endeavour’s second landing opportunity at Kennedy Space Center today. The next opportunity for STS-126 to land is at 9:25 p.m. GMT at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

Endeavour arrived at the station Nov. 16, delivering equipment that will help allow the station to double its crew size to six. In addition, the STS-126 astronauts delivered Expedition 18 Flight Engineer Sandra Magnus, who replaced Greg Chamitoff, now a mission specialist returning to Earth aboard Endeavour.

STS-126 is the 124th shuttle mission and 27th shuttle flight to visit the space station.

STS 126 Prepare for landing(29th November 2008)

Photo Credit: Nasa
The crew of space shuttle Endeavour is spending today getting ready for its journey home and the end of the STS-126 mission. Among the preparations is a test of the thrusters that will be used to position the orbiter for re-entry and the control surfaces for its flight through the atmosphere.

After this testing is complete, the crew members will speak with representatives of three media organizations.

The STS-126 astronauts also will set up the recumbent seat for mission specialist Greg Chamitoff, who joined the crew of Endeavour on the International Space Station. The recumbent seat is a special seat designed to reduce the stress of gravity on those who have spent long periods in the weightless environment of space.

Endeavour is scheduled to land at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, Sunday at 6:19 p.m. GMT.

Astronuats prepare for undocking(27th November 2008)

Photo Credit: Nasa
The STS-126 and Expedition 18 crews are scheduled to bid one another farewell before the hatches between space shuttle Endeavour and the International Space Station close today. Endeavour is slated to undock Friday.

Prior to hatch closure, the two crews will have time off to spend the first part of the day as a team and enjoy a Thanksgiving meal in the Harmony module. On the menu are smoked turkey, cornbread dressing, green beans and mushrooms, candied yams and cranapple dessert.

Endeavour is scheduled to land at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on Sunday.

Crew to pack Leonardo(26th November 2008)

Photo Credit: Nasa
The STS-126 and Expedition 18 crews will finish packing the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module and transfer it back to Endeavour's payload bay today.

The Multi-purpose Logistics Module Leonardo will take the first small step in its lengthy journey back to Earth today as crews of Endeavour and the International Space Station finish its packing and move it from the station to the shuttle’s cargo bay.
Endeavour crew members were awakened at 12:55 p.m.GMT. The wake up song this morning was Jethro Tull's “North Sea Oil,” played for Mission Specialist Steve Bowen.

Endeavour is scheduled to undock from the station Friday.

Crews to do some work on the Water recovery system(25th November 2008)

Photo Credit: Nasa
With the fourth and final spacewalk behind them, the crew members of the space shuttle Endeavour and the International Space Station will turn their attention to additional work on the Water Recovery System. The crews will activate and check out the Potable Water Dispenser. They also will install the Harmony Node Common Berthing Mechanism controller.

Mission managers extended the STS-126 mission by one day Monday. Landing is scheduled for 6:18 p.m. GMT Sunday.

4th Spacewalk to begin today(24th November 2008)

Photo Credit: Nasa
STS-126 mission specialists Steve Bowen and Shane Kimbrough will perform the last of the mission's scheduled spacewalks today. Their tasks will include lubrication of the port solar alpha rotary joint, work on the Kibo laboratory and installation of a video camera.

Pilot Eric Boe will be the intravehicular officer, or spacewalk choreographer. The spacewalk is scheduled to last 6.5 hours.

3rd Spacewalk complete(22nd November 2008)

Photo Credit: Nasa
Mission specialists Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve Bowen completed the third spacewalk of the STS-126 mission at 0:58 a.m. GMT Sunday. The excursion lasted six hours and 57 minutes.

Inside the station, the rest of the shuttle and station crew members transferred supplies and equipment between the two spacecraft.

Bowen and mission specialist Shane Kimbrough are slated to perform the mission’s fourth spacewalk Monday. During the spacewalk, the astronauts will focus on the lubrication and servicing of the port solar alpha rotary joint and the replacement of the final trundle bearing assembly.

Astronuats Prepare for 3rd EVA(21st November 2008)

Photo Credit: Nasa
STS-126 mission specialists Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve Bowen will venture outside the station again today.

The third and longest spacewalk of the mission will be completely devoted to work on the starboard solar alpha rotary joint. The two astronauts will complete cleaning, lubrication and trundle bearing assembly replacement on the rotary joint. The spacewalk is scheduled to last seven hours.

Inside the station, the rest of the shuttle and station crews will continue transfers between the two spacecraft.

2nd Spacewalk In Progress(20th November 2008)

Photo Credit: Nasa
STS-126 mission specialists Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and Shane Kimbrough are working outside the station today for the second of the mission's four spacewalks. Their tasks include the relocation of two crew and equipment translation aid carts, the lubrication of the Canadarm2 end effector, and the continuation of cleaning and lubrication of the starboard solar alpha rotary joint.

Inside the station, STS-126 Mission Specialist Don Pettit and Expedition 18 Flight Engineer Sandra Magnus are operating the station's robotic arm, and Pilot Eric Boe is serving as the intravehicular officer, or spacewalk coordinator.

The excursion is scheduled to last 6.5 hours and is estimated to conclude at around 02:38 GMT Friday.

Crew to carry out some station improvements(19th November 2008)

Photo Credit: Nasa
With the first mission spacewalk complete, the combined shuttle and station crews will work on preparing the station for future crews and transferring supplies and equipment to the station.

The crew members will install several racks in the Destiny laboratory, as well as additional crew quarters. The equipment being installed during STS-126 will provide additional capability for the station to house astronauts and to increase the station crew size from three to six by spring 2009.

The crews also will prepare for the second spacewalk of the mission. Mission specialists Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and Shane Kimbrough will venture outside of the station Thursday.

Astronuats Prepare for First Spacewalk(18th November 2008)

Photo Credit: Nasa
STS-126 mission specialists Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve Bowen will work outside the station today for the first of the mission's four spacewalks. Their tasks will include the replacement of a nitrogen tank assembly, assorted station assembly tasks, and the start of cleaning and lubrication of the starboard solar alpha rotary joint.

Inside the station, STS-126 mission specialist Don Pettit and Expedition 18 flight engineer Sandra Magnus will operate the station's robotic arm, and mission specialist Shane Kimbrough will be the intravehicular officer, or spacewalk coordinator.

The spacewalk is scheduled to last 6.5 hours.

Crew Install Leonardo and Prepare for First EVA(17th November 2008)

Photo Credit: Nasa
The STS-126 and Expedition 18 crew members will spend the day installing the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module on the International Space Station and preparing for the first spacewalk of the mission. Mission Specialists Heide Stefanyshyn-Piper and Steve Bowen are scheduled to perform that spacewalk Tuesday.

Here is an overview of today’s timeline:

• Canadarm2 grapple and unberthing of the Leonardo Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) from Endeavour’s cargo bay
• Installation of Leonardo MPLM onto nadir port of Harmony / Node2
• Shuttle / station transfers
• Leonardo MPLM ingress
• Procedure review for first spacewalk
• Campout by Piper and Bowen for first spacewalk

Heat Shield Inspected. ISS Docking Today..(16th November 2008)

Photo Credit: Nasa
The STS-126 crew members completed the day's scheduled inspections of space shuttle Endeavour’s heat shield at 1:54 a.m. GMT Sunday. They used Endeavour’s robotic arm and an attached boom extension to check the spacecraft’s underside, nose cap and leading edges of the wings as well as hard to reach shuttle surfaces.

The inspections are performed to check if any damage occurred to the heat shield during the climb to orbit that began when Endeavour lifted off Friday from Kennedy Space Center, Fla. Over the next few days, engineers and flight controllers will analyze the data collected by the STS-126 crew.

Throughout the day, the crew prepared for Sunday’s arrival at the International Space Station. The day's activities included the extension of the shuttle’s docking ring and the check out of tools they will use to rendezvous and link up with the station. Docking is scheduled to occur at 10:04 p.m. Sunday.

The crew also checked out spacesuits to be used during the mission’s four scheduled spacewalks at the space station.

Space Shuttle Endeavour's docking with the International Space Station is scheduled today. The primary objective of the crew's 15-day mission is to prepare the station to accommodate six members for long-duration stays. In addition, traveling with STS-126 is a new Expedition 18 crew member, astronaut Sandra Magnus, who will replace Flight Engineer Greg Chamitoff.

Today's major events include:

  • Rendezvous with station
  • Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver photography by the Expedition 18 crew
  • Docking to Harmony/Pressurized Mating Adapter 2
  • Hatch opening and welcome
  • Crew exchange of Magnus for Chamitoff
  • OBSS handoff from Canadarm2 to the shuttle robotic arm


Crew to Inspect Heat Shield and Prepare for Docking(15th November 2008)

Photo Credit: Nasa
STS-126 crew members will use the shuttle’s robotic arm and its extension to look at the spacecraft’s thermal protection system. They also will prepare for Sunday afternoon's docking with the station by installing the Orbiter Docking System centerline camera and extending the system’s docking ring. A checkout of the spacesuits to be used during the four spacewalks by Endeavour crewmembers outside the International Space Station also is on the agenda.

During their first full day in orbit, the STS-126 crew members will inspect space shuttle Endeavour’s heat shield and prepare for Sunday’s arrival at the International Space Station.

Crew members will use Endeavour’s robotic arm and orbiter boom extension to check out the spacecraft’s underside and the leading edges of its wings. The inspections are conducted to see if any damage occurred to the heat shield during the climb to orbit that began when Endeavour lifted off at 0:55 p.m. GMT Saturday from Kennedy Space Center, Fla.

In preparation for docking, the crew members will extend the shuttle’s docking ring and check out tools they will use to rendezvous and link up with the station.

The crew members also are slated to check out spacesuits they will use during the mission’s four scheduled spacewalks at the station.

Endeavour reaches orbit(15th November 2008)

Photo Credit: Nasa
NASA senior managers expressed their satisfaction with space shuttle Endeavour's successful launch during a briefing after the liftoff.

"It was a great launch and a great team," said NASA Administrator Michael Griffin.

NASA Associate Administrator for Space Operations William Gerstenmaier talked about the enormous volume of work the Kennedy Space Center team had to deal with to get Atlantis rolled back, Endeavour rolled around and readied for launch, in addition to handling the incoming Ares rocket segments for the upcoming test flight next year.

Gerstenmaier thanked the Kennedy team "for giving us such a great launch." Even the moon cooperated by adding a beautiful backdrop to an awesome launch.

Mission Management Team Chair LeRoy Cain said, "We're off to a great start on what's going to be an extremely complex and challenging mission."

NASA Launch Director Mike Leinbach remarked how pleased he is to celebrate Endeavour's launch, although a minor issue arose during the last few minutes of the countdown. A door in the White Room was found to be unpinned, but after discussion with the launch team confirming that it would not affect the safety of the shuttle, the countdown resumed.

"It was a great count and I was very, very impressed with the launch team," said Leinbach.

Endeavour on it's way to ISS(14th November 2008)


Photo Credit: Nasa TVEndeavour successfully launches from Kennedy Space Center on it's mission to the International Space Station.
 

NASA astronaut Chris Ferguson commands the seven-member crew, which includes Pilot Eric Boe, Mission Specialists Donald Pettit, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Steve Bowen, Shane Kimbrough and Sandra Magnus.

Boe, Bowen and Kimbrough will be making their first spaceflight.

Expedition 17/18 Flight Engineer Gregory Chamitoff will return to Earth with the Endeavour crew and Magnus will take Chamitoff's place on the International Space Station.

In Endeavour's payload bay, the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo is packed full of about 14,500 pounds of equipment and supplies, making it one of the heaviest modules in shuttle history.

Also included in the payload, are additional sleeping quarters, a second toilet, an exercise device and other household-type equipment.

The prime objective of the 15-day mission is to prepare the International Space Station to accommodate six members for long-duration stays.

Four planned spacewalks will focus on servicing the station's two Solar Alpha Rotary Joints, or SARJ, which are needed to track the sun for electric power.

Endeavour and its crew are set to land at NASA's Kennedy Space Center after more than two weeks in space.



STS 126 Endeavour Targeted Launch for Nov 14th (4th October 2008)

Photo Credit: Nasa
Space Shuttle Program managers advanced the target launch date for Endeavour's STS-126 mission by two days to Nov. 14 at 23:55 GMT.

Endeavour will carry new equipment to the International Space Station that will allow the orbiting laboratory to double its current resident crew from three to six. One Endeavour crew member, Sandra Magnus, will remain on the station for a long-duration mission when Endeavour returns. She will take the place of current station resident crewman Greg Chamitoff.

Working inside the gigantic swimming pool at NASA's Neutral Buoyancy Lab at NASA's Johnson Space Center, astronauts Steve Bowen and Shane Kimbrough are rehearsing the fourth spacewalk for the mission.

Technicians at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida will remove the Hubble Space Telescope servicing hardware from the cargo bay of space shuttle Atlantis early next week and place it inside its protective cannister on Oct. 13 for transfer to the Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility. The Atlantis mission to service the Hubble has been delayed and Atlantis will be moved back from Launch Pad 39A to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Oct. 20. Endeavour will be moved to Pad A on Oct. 25.

Crew set for Countdown Rehearsal (21st September 2008)

On Sunday, the Atlantis astronauts are set to fly from their home base at Johnson Space Center in Houston to Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where they will participate in the STS-125 Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test next week. The training activities and countdown rehearsal will run from Sept. 22 through 24.

Photo Credit: Nasa
The seven astronauts and ground crews will participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency training for the fifth and final shuttle flight to service NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.

The Hubble payload moves to the pad this weekend and will be put into Atlantis' cargo bay on Tuesday.

In the early morning hours Friday at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Endeavour successfully completed its slow 4.2-mile trek from the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39B. The journey took less than 8 hours, and the shuttle was securely fastened to the pad just before sunrise.

Just a short distance away on pad 39A, technicians continue to prepare space shuttle Atlantis for its targeted Oct. 10 at 4:43 a.m. GMT launch on mission STS-125 to service the Hubble Space Telescope. Endeavour will be on standby in the unlikely event that a rescue mission for the Atlantis's crew would be necessary. After Endeavour is cleared from its duty as a rescue vehicle, workers will move it to pad 39A in preparation for liftoff on mission STS-126 to the International Space Station in November.