SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOR COMING HOME TODAY JULY 31st, 2009 @ 10:48AM EST

SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOR STS 127 LANDS TODAY @10:48 AM.READ ON
A lot of more pictures further down. Awesome landing.


















Convoy Rolling
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:54:18 AM EDT

The ground support convoy is moving onto the runway to retrieve the crew and begin the lengthy process of getting the shuttle ready to be towed back to its Orbiter Processing Facility, the hangar where workers ready the shuttles for flight.

Touchdown!
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:49:00 AM EDT

Endeavour has landed!

Flare and Gear Down
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:47:59 AM EDT

Polansky pitches the nose of Endeavour up to slow Endeavour for touchdown on the runway. Landing gear down and locked.

Endeavour Gliding Over Kennedy!
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:45:01 AM EDT

The shuttle has just flown overhead here at Kennedy and Polansky is making his final line up to the runway.

Five Minutes
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:43:52 AM EDT

Endeavour continues on its prescribed landing path toward Kennedy. Polansky will guide the shuttle along the heading alignment cylinder in about two minutes.

Endeavour at Mach 2.5
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:42:12 AM EDT

The shuttle has slowed to Mach 2.5. Six minutes to landing.

10 Minutes to Landing
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:38:22 AM EDT

Endeavour will glide over Cuba before heading up Florida's Atlantic coast on its way to Kennedy. Landing is still on schedule for 10:48 a.m. Shuttle is 443,000 feet above Earth.

Roll Reversal
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:36:37 AM EDT

Moving at 11,000 mph and slowing, Endeavour is turning to the right now to conclude a sweeping S-turn that helps the shuttle dissipate speed and energy. 450 miles to go.

Peak Heating
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:29:27 AM EDT

Endeavour is now in the area of maximum heating. It will last another six minutes or so as the shuttle slows tremendously from its orbital speed of Mach 25. Polansky and Hurley work carefully to make sure they keep up the shuttle's energy to glide all the way back to Florida and land safely. All systems are working as they should.

First Roll
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:25:28 AM EDT

Steering through the thickening atmosphere, Polansky and the seven crew members are watching the plasma form around the spacecraft as the heat shield insulates the craft from the effects.

Support Convoy Moving Into Position
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:21:34 AM EDT

A long string of specialized trucks is lining up just off the runway here. They will move into place after Endeavour comes to a stop and the area around it has been deemed safe. Some of the trucks vent hazardous chemicals out of the orbiter's systems, while others tend to the crew and time-sensitive experiments and equipment. New NASA Administrator Charles Bolden is scheduled to be in the convoy commander's vehicle as it rolls out to meet Endeavour.

Entry Interface
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:16:44 AM EDT

Endeavour is starting to encounter the upper levels of the atmosphere. It is about 5,000 miles from Kennedy. Polansky will steer the shuttle into a sweeping left turn in about five minutes to help slow the spacecraft, sort of like a skier using the edges to bite into a snowy slope.

Less than an Hour Before Landing
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:56:07 AM EDT

Endeavour's return to Earth is about 50 minutes away, scheduled for 10:48 a.m.

Teams Watch for Birds
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:53:44 AM EDT

The Shuttle Landing Facility, like all the KSC facilities, is in a wildlife refuge. So occasionally a team goes out and fires blanks into the air to scare away groups of birds that mingle around the runway. The shots, along with the engines of the Shuttle Training Aircraft, define the sounds out here on landing day.

Burn Complete, Endeavour on Target
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:46:12 AM EDT

The orbital maneuvering system has done its job and Endeavour has taken a critical step to land at 10:48 a.m. at Kennedy today.

Engines Burning for Deorbit
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:44:37 AM EDT

The two orbital maneuvering system thrusters at the back of Endeavour are firing now to slow the spacecraft. They will slow Endeavour's Mach 25 velocity. Then Endeavour, which is flying backward with its payload bay facing Earth, will flip over so its nose is pointing forward and the heat shield will be facing the atmosphere.

Deorbit Burn at 9:42 a.m.
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:32:12 AM EDT

Polansky will maneuver Endeavour so it is facing backward in relation to the Earth. He will fire the twin orbital maneuvering system engines for a couple minutes, just enough to slow the shuttle's 17,500 mph speed so gravity can take hold and pull it into the atmosphere.

"Go" for Deorbit Burn
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:28:32 AM EDT

Mission Control cleared Endeavour to land at the 10:48 a.m. opportunity at Kennedy, the first of today. "You are a steely eyed hero," Polansky radioed back to Houston when told of the "go."

Crew Strapped In
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:17:58 AM EDT

The seven astronauts on Endeavour are not all keeping the same seats they had for launch. As commander and pilot, Polansky and Doug Hurley remain in the front seats of the flight deck. Each has identical controls and a stick and both can fly Endeavour's landing profile from their seats. Julie Payette keeps her station as flight engineer, sitting behind and between Polansky and Hurley as she did for launch. Tom Marshburn sits behind Hurley on the flight deck for landing, a change from his launch seat. On the lower level, called the middeck, Chris Cassidy sits on the left, closest to the hatch. Japan's Koichi Wakata, who was living on the International Space Station, will sit in a reclined seat between Cassidy and David Wolf, who is on the right side of the middeck.

Endeavour to aim for Runway 15
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 09:13:39 AM EDT

Commander Mark Polansky is to steer Endeavour to land from the northwest, on what is known as runway 15 at the Shuttle Landing Facility. The SLF has only one runway, but it is numbered differently depending on which direction the shuttle approaches from. The runway 33 designation uses a glide approach from the south east.

Landing Tracks
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:59:42 AM EDT

Paste this address into your browser to see the paths Endeavour would take during its two landing opportunities: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts127/news/landing.html

"Go" for Fluid Loading
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:39:40 AM EDT

The astronauts inside Endeavour have been told to begin drinking fluids in preparation for the return to gravity.

What to Expect This Morning
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:34:25 AM EDT

The decision from Mission Control to "go" for landing sets off a timeline that begins when the shuttle is floating in space at 17,500 mph and ends with the shuttle sitting still on the runway at Kennedy. Although there are scores of small steps along the way, the major milestones are the deorbit burn, entry interface, peak heating and the long glide before banking the shuttle through a broad turn to line up with the runway. Then there's the touch down of the main gear and nose gear before the landing can be declared a success. We'll highlight these crucial points throughout the morning. The "go/no-go" decision is expected at 9:22 a.m. and the weather here remains acceptable for landing at 10:48 a.m.

STS-127 a Busy but Successful Mission
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:21:57 AM EDT

Endeavour's seven astronauts spent more than two weeks in space, and they needed all of it to pull off a challenging array of tasks. They installed the last piece of Japan's "Kibo" space laboratory complex on the International Space Station, performed five spacewalks and used three robotic arms to help in the work along the way. Tim Kopra, who flew into space aboard Endeavour, remains on the station after trading seats with Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, who is returning to Earth today aboard Endeavour.

Lindsey Takes Off to Evaluate Weather
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:07:48 AM EDT

Chief astronaut Steve Lindsey just took off from the Shuttle Landing Facility in a Shuttle Training Aircraft to study weather conditions along Endeavour's projected landing path. The STA, as it is known, is a Gulfstream II business jet that has been modified to fly like a gliding shuttle so commanders and pilots can practice landings. Lindsey's experiences this morning will be radioed to Endeavour Commander Mark Polansky so he can know more of what to expect as when he and his crew land.

Welcome to Landing Coverage of Endeavour!
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 08:00:44 AM EDT

Good morning from NASA's Kennedy Space Center, where the sun is helping provide us with a bright but humid morning. We are at the Shuttle Landing Facility, a 3-mile-long runway built specifically for the space shuttle. Landing time is 10:48 a.m. and we expect the seven astronauts on Endeavour to get an official "go/no-go" decision at 9:22 a.m. for this first landing try. The weather forecast remains acceptable for landing this morning, although meteorologists will watch the conditions carefully throughout the morning. There is also a second opportunity today at 12:22 p.m. here at Kennedy. Enjoy the coverage!

Weather Forecast "Go" for First Opportunity
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 07:30:14 AM EDT

The current and forecast weather conditions are "go" for that landing try, but meteorologists will continue to monitor the conditions throughout the morning. A final decision on the first landing time will be made at about 9:20 a.m. Right now, Endeavour's payload bay doors are closed and latched. First landing try would put Endeavour on the runway at 10:48 a.m.

Endeavour Gets "Go" to Close Doors
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 07:00:26 AM EDT

Mission Control gave STS-127 Commander Mark "Roman" Polansky the go-ahead to close Endeavour's payload bay doors. That is a critical step in the landing procedure, though it doesn't necessarily mean controllers have decided to land at the first opportunity today, which is at 10:48 a.m.

Join Us at 8 a.m. for Landing!
Fri, 31 Jul 2009 06:50:27 AM EDT

Space shuttle Endeavour and its crew of seven astronauts are to return to Kennedy Space Center in Florida today after more than two weeks in space. We will cover the entry and landing from here at the Shuttle Landing Facility starting at 8 a.m. EDT.

Landing 101

Follow along with the landing! Whether the space shuttle lands at the prime landing site at Kennedy Space Center in Florida or its backup landing site at Edwards Air Force Base in California, the Virtual Launch Control Center is the only place online to get breaking information directly from NASA.

When it is time to return to Earth, the orbiter is rotated tail-first into the direction of travel to prepare for another firing of the orbital maneuvering system engines. This firing is called the deorbit burn. Time of ignition (TIG) is usually about an hour before landing. The burn lasts three to four minutes and slows the shuttle enough to begin its descent.

Leaving behind in orbit a new porch for the International Space Station, two pair of small research satellites, and a new space station resident, the crew of the space shuttle Endeavour is turning its attention toward home.

Endeavour is scheduled to land at Florida's Kennedy Space Center on Friday with a touchdown at 9:48 a.m. CDT. The shuttle would begin its descent from orbit with a deorbit engine firing at 8:42 a.m. CDT. In preparation for that landing, Endeavour's payload bay doors would be closed at 6:02 a.m. CDT. Weather conditions at Kennedy are forecast to be favorable for landing, although a slight chance of rain is possible.

A second opportunity exists for a landing in Florida on Friday, beginning with a deorbit engine firing at 10:17 a.m. CDT, leading to an 11:22 a.m. CDT touchdown. No other shuttle landing sites are being considered for a Friday landing. If weather prevents a landing Friday, alternate landing sites would be called up for Saturday’s landing opportunities.

Today, Endeavour Commander Mark Polansky and Pilot Doug Hurley checked out the systems the shuttle will use as it returns home, finding everything in excellent shape. The crew also deployed two pairs of small satellites from canisters in the shuttle’s payload bay. The first, called Dual RF Astrodynamic GPS Orbital Navigator Satellite (DRAGONSat), studies the independent rendezvous of spacecraft in orbit using Global Positioning Satellite data. The two satellites were designed and built by students at the University of Texas, Austin, and Texas A&M University, College Station.

The second pair of satellites, called Atmospheric Neutral Density Experiment-2 (ANDE-2), measure the density and composition of the rarified atmosphere 200 miles above the Earth’s surface.

Endeavour will bring home Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency astronaut Koichi Wakata, who has spent 138 days in space and was a member of three station expedition crews. NASA astronaut Tim Kopra launched aboard Endeavour and remains on the station as a resident.

Endeavour's crew begins its sleep period at 5:03 p.m. CDT. The crew will awaken at 1:03 a.m. CDT Friday. The next shuttle status report will be issued after landing, or earlier if events warrant.

SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOR STS127 MISSION TO LIFT OFF TODAY @ 5:40 AM~6-17-2009

Launch is scrubbed @ 1:55 am for todays launch that was set for 5:40 AM . Sorry folks. Guess it will be a few weeks now until it goes. Better safe than sorry ! Scroll to the bottom and read the lastest info.

Endeavour Liftoff Scrubbed; Briefing is Planned
Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:20:57 AM EDT

Space shuttle Endeavour's STS-127 launch today was officially scrubbed at 1:55 a.m. EDT when the same type of gaseous hydrogen leak at the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate occurred. This is the same location where a similar leak resulted in a launch scrub on June 13. Vent valve troubleshooting took place for about an hour before it became clear the problem could not be solved.

Endeavour's next launch attempt for its STS-127 mission is targeted for July 11 at 7:39 p.m. EDT.

There will be a briefing on NASA TV no earlier than 3:30 a.m. EDT with Deputy Space Shuttle Program Manager LeRoy Cain and Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach. Watch it live at http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
Endeavour, STS-127 Astronauts Await Early-Morning Liftoff












AFTER A DELAY FROM SATURDAY JUNE 13, 2009, NASA WILL TRY TO LAUNCH TODAY JUNE 17th AT 5:40 AM. There has already been a delay due to lightining in the area and they got off to a late start of fueling the shuttle.

At the moment 1:00 AM THEY WERE FUELING AND THE SAME PROBLEM THEY HAD THE OTHER DAY HAS OCCURED. THERE IS A HIGHER THAN NORMAL LEAK OF HYDROGEN AT THE FUELING AREA. They stopped fueling and they are recycling it in hope that they can start back fueling the shuttle for launch. They have recyled once again and the problem when leakage is not as much as it was earlier so they are going to start back the fueling and check the leak again after they recyle one more time. There are 27 minutes left in the 3 hour hold.

Endeavour Fueling Update
Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:02:22 AM EDT

At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, engineers are working to troubleshoot a liquid hydrogen leak that's been detected during filling of space shuttle Endeavour's external fuel tank. The flow of liquid hydrogen into the tank has been restarted in order to raise the liquid level, allowing launch controllers to cycle the vent valve in an effort to solve the problem.
Endeavour Fuel Leak Troubleshooting Continues
Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:32:23 AM EDT

The three-hour fueling operation began at 11:04 p.m. EDT after a weather delay. The launch countdown currently is holding at T-3 hours, which will last until 1:45 a.m. EDT. Launch still is scheduled for 5:40 a.m. EDT.

Below is the explanation of what happened on Saturday....
NASA Postpones Launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour
06.13.09 - NASA postponed space shuttle Endeavour's launch to the International Space Station on Saturday because of a leak associated with the gaseous hydrogen venting system outside the shuttle’s external fuel tank.
Repair at the Pad
On Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, workers prepare to remove the 7-inch quick disconnect and flight seal from the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate on space shuttle Endeavour's external fuel tank. A leak of hydrogen at the location during tanking for the STS-127 mission caused the mission to be scrubbed at 12:26 a.m. on June 13.













If todays launch goes as scheduled this is some info about what they will be doing this week.

Launch and Landing Mission: STS-127
Orbiter: Endeavour
Primary Payload: Kibo Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility, Kibo Japanese Experiment Logistics Module-Exposed Section
Launch Date: June 17
Launch Time: 5:40 a.m. EDT
Launch Pad: 39A
Mission Duration: 16 days
Inclination/Altitude: 51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles























Space shuttle Endeavour's STS-127 launch is scheduled for 5:40 a.m. EDT on Wednesday, June 17. The flight's seven astronauts are at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, where they will board Endeavour overnight before setting off on their mission to the International Space Station.

The 16-day mission will feature five spacewalks as the crews of Endeavour and the International Space Station work to install the Kibo Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility and Experiment Logistics Module Exposed Section on the orbiting outpost.

All times listed in EDT

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Tuesday Launch Day Highlights

11:15 p.m. Countdown enters a 2-hour, 30-minute built-in hold at the T-3 hour mark
11:30 p.m. Ascent Team of flight controllers on duty for its shift in Mission Control, Houston

Wednesday Launch Day Highlights
12:30 a.m. Live launch coverage begins on NASA TV and Launch Blog
1:45 a.m. Countdown resumes at T-3 hours
1:50 a.m. Endeavour astronauts depart crew quarters for Launch Pad 39A
2:04 a.m. Fueling enters stable replenish
2:20 a.m. Astronauts arrive at the launch pad and begin to board Endeavour
3:35 a.m. Endeavour hatch is closed and latched for launch
4:25 a.m. Countdown enters a 10-minute planned hold at the T-20 minute mark
4:35 a.m. Countdown resumes at the T-20 minute mark
4:46 a.m. Countdown enters a 40-minute planned hold at the T-9 minute mark, during which the Mission Management Team and Launch Control team will conduct polls to give a final "go" decision for launch
5:31 a.m. Countdown resumes at the T-9 minute mark
5:35 a.m. Auxiliary Power Units start at the T-5 minute mark
5:40 a.m. Endeavour launches on the STS-127 mission
5:49 a.m. Main Engine Cut Off (MECO)






Follow Updates on NASA.gov
Wed, 17 Jun 2009 02:12:16 AM EDT


The NASA Launch Blog is closing down for the morning following the decision to scrub today's launch attempt. NASA's Web site will continue to update the status of the mission. Thanks for joining us!


Launch Attempt Scrubbed
Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:57:07 AM EDT


Launch Director Pete Nickolenko has called off today's launch attempt of the STS-127 mission.


Countdown Activities Continue
Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:53:25 AM EDT


The crew of space shuttle Endeavour has received a detailed weather briefing this morning and other launch preparations are moving along. These will continue while engineers troubleshoot the leak at the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate.


Countdown Resumes at T-3 hours
Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:53:01 AM EDT


The countdown has resumed at the T-3 hour mark while troubleshooting continues on the hydrogen leak in the area of the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate.


Fueling Reaches 98 percent Level
Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:52:00 AM EDT


The fuel loading stopped when the hydrogen tank reached the 98 percent level. Engineers continue to analyze the leak by opening the vent valve that lets evaporating hydrogen leave the tank and be carried away from the shuttle safely.


Fueling Stopped at 1:02 a.m.
Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:35:28 AM EDT


The loading of hydrogen fuel into the external tank has been stopped for evaluation of a leak in the area of the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate.


Fuel Flow Stopped Again
Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:30:23 AM EDT


Launch controllers have stopped the loading of hydrogen fuel into the external tank again. Engineers are monitoring a leak of hydrogen in the area of the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate, which is part of the system that funnels gaseous hydrogen away from the shuttle during countdown.


Fueling to Begin Again
Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:18:45 AM EDT


Launch controllers are going to begin loading the external tank with more liquid hydrogen fuel to help them troubleshoot the leak they have been monitoring.


Engineers to Recycle Vent Valve
Wed, 17 Jun 2009 01:11:40 AM EDT


The engineers on the launch team are cycling the vent valve to see if it cures the hydrogen leak that they have been monitoring.


Controllers Monitoring Leak at GUCP
Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:59:53 AM EDT


The launch team here at Kennedy is monitoring a leak in the area of the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate, which is the connecting point between the external tank and the launch tower. A leak developed at the GUCP during the previous external tank filling operation Saturday morning.


Launch Team Preparing Expedited Schedule
Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:40:40 AM EDT


After dealing with a weather delay of almost three hours, the launch team here at Kennedy is speeding up some of its processes to make up the time and still make the liftoff time of 5:40 a.m. Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach said the team will not take shortcuts relating to safety.


Launch Morning at Kennedy!
Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:33:21 AM EDT


Good morning and welcome to the NASA Launch Blog. We are coming to you from Firing Room 3 inside the Launch Control Center at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. About three miles away, space shuttle Endeavour stands bathed in spotlights on Launch Pad 39A.

Launch activities are continuing after thunderstorms over Kennedy earlier delayed the loading of the external tank. At 11:04 p.m., the launch team here began filling the tank with the super-cold propellants Endeavour will use to power its three main engines during its climb to orbit. It will be fully loaded at 2:04 a.m. The pumps will go into “stable replenish” mode then, which means they will put in just enough propellants to replace the amount that evaporates during the countdown.

Tanking takes about three hours. The original schedule called for the tanking to begin at 8:15 p.m., but the launch team is confident they can make up the time and launch Endeavour on schedule at 5:40 a.m.


Join us at 12:30 a.m.
Tue, 16 Jun 2009 08:00:12 AM EDT


We are going to begin coverage of the launch of space shuttle Endeavour on the STS-127 mission at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. Endeavour is to deliver the final piece of Japan's "Kibo" laboratory to the International Space Station. Seven astronauts will fly the mission, including four who have not gone into space before. NASA's coverage on the Web will include photos and videos along with detailed minute-by-minute updates as the countdown progresses.

SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOR LIFTS OFF TONIGHT NOV 14 2008

Counting Down
Fri, 14 Nov 2008 07:08:08 PM EST
















Image above: These seven astronauts take a break from training to pose for the STS-126 crew portrait. Astronaut Christopher J. Ferguson, commander, is at center; and astronaut Eric A. Boe, pilot, is third from the right. Remaining crew members, pictured from left to right, are astronauts Sandra H. Magnus, Stephen G. Bowen, Donald R. Pettit, Robert S. (Shane) Kimbrough and Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper, all mission specialists. Image credit: NASA

Veteran space flier Navy Capt. Christopher J. Ferguson will command the STS-126 mission aboard Endeavour to deliver equipment to the International Space Station that will enable larger crews to reside aboard the complex. Air Force Lt. Col. Eric A. Boe will serve as the pilot. The mission specialists are Navy Capt. Stephen G. Bowen, Army Lt. Col. Robert S. Kimbrough, Navy Capt. Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper and NASA astronauts Donald R. Pettit and Sandra H. Magnus.

Magnus will remain on the station, replacing Expedition 17/18 Flight Engineer Gregory E. Chamitoff, who returns to Earth with the STS-126 crew. Magnus will serve as a flight engineer and NASA science officer for Expedition 18. Magnus will return to Earth on shuttle mission STS-119.

Endeavour will carry a reusable logistics module that will hold supplies and equipment, including additional crew quarters, additional exercise equipment, equipment for the regenerative life support system and spare hardware.

STS-126 is the 27th shuttle mission to the International Space Station.

















Welcome to NASA's STS-126 Launch Blog

Live blogging from inside Firing Room 3 at the Launch Control Center begins at 2:30 p.m. EST on Friday.

Join blogger Steven Siceloff for a unique perspective of launch day procedures and follow the countdown to the liftoff of space shuttle Endeavour at 7:55 p.m.

NASA's Web team will provide videos and photos as the astronauts suit up and technicians make preparations for launch. Stay connected to the countdown as launch controllers run through their final procedures before clearing Endeavour to begin its 15-day mission to the International Space Station.

Follow Endeavour's thundering flight into orbit as the shuttle goes from a standstill to more than 17,500 mph in just 8 1/2 minutes.

After the launch, look for replays of the liftoff that will be available on demand. It all adds up to an exhilarating launch day experience even if you can't be at Kennedy!

Join blogger Steven Siceloff for a unique perspective of launch day procedures and follow the countdown to the liftoff of space shuttle Endeavour at 7:55 p.m. NASA's Web team will provide videos and photos as the astronauts suit up and technicians make preparations for launch. Stay connected to the countdown as launch controllers run through their final procedures before clearing Endeavour to begin its 15-day mission to the International Space Station.

8:10 p.m. – With space shuttle Endeavour safely in orbit, we will draw NASA’s Launch Blog to a close. Thanks for joining us today, and continue to check back to NASA’s Web site for continuing updates through this mission to the International Space Station. We will be back again for landing with a detailed account of Endeavour’s return to Earth. NASA TV will also offer continuing coverage and updates on STS-126.

Good night from Firing Room 3 at Kennedy Space Center!

8:04 p.m. - External Tank is jettisoned and Endeavour is safely in orbit! All systems are running well.

8:03 p.m. - MECO! Main Engine Cutoff. Endeavour will jettison the external tank momentarily.

7:59 p.m. - Four minutes into flight, Endeavour is moving faster than 6,000 mph. All engines working well.

7:58 p.m. – Endeavour jettisoned the two solid rocket boosters. Its three liquid-fueled main engines are working properly. The shuttle continues to pick up speed.

7:56 p.m. – Endeavour is soaring through the sound barrier as it quickly picks up speed. It is riding about 7 million pounds of thrust from the combined power of its twin solid rocket boosters and three main engines.

7:55 p.m. - “Preparing our home in space for a larger international family,” said Launch Commentator Candrea Thomas.

7:55 p.m. – LIFTOFF of space shuttle Endeavour!

77:54 p.m. – T- one minute and counting . . . All systems go for launch!

7:53 p.m. – T-2 minutes and counting . . . The oxygen vent arm is retracting out of Endeavour’s way.

7:52 p.m. – T-3 minutes and counting . . . The three main engines are moving through a series of tests to make sure they are ready for launch.

7:50 p.m. – T-5 minutes and counting . . . The Auxiliary Power Unit aboard Endeavour is powering up. Commander Chris Ferguson said his crew will "Take space station construction to the next level" with STS-126.

7:48 p.m. – T-7 minutes and counting . . . The Orbiter Access Arm is retracting away from Endeavour’s hatch. It can be swung back into place in case of an emergency. "Good luck, Godspeed and have happy Thanksgiving in orbit," Launch Director Mike Leinbach told the astronauts.

7:46 p.m. - T-9 minutes and counting . . . Launch controllers have cleared the door issue, saying it does not pose a hazard to Endeavour as it climbs away from the launch pad. All launch teams are go for launch.

7:40 p.m. - Launch controllers are discussing a potential issue with a door in the White Room. There is concern whether the door has been pinned back. The door in question is not on Endeavour.

7:15 p.m. – For those just joining NASA’s Launch Blog today, Endeavour is on schedule to liftoff at 7:55 p.m.

STS-126 is known as a utilization and logistics flight to the International Space Station. Endeavour is carrying a cargo module called Leonardo that has been loaded with about 14,500 pounds of equipment and supplies. The gear includes a water recycling system, new crew quarters, an exercise device and a space kitchen. Once installed and operational, the equipment will support a station resident crew of six instead of the current three.

7:05 p.m. – A beautiful orange full moon has emerged just over the horizon at Kennedy to provide a fitting backdrop for the launch of Endeavour. Many of the experiments taking place on the International Space Station are focused on aspects of returning astronauts to the moon. For example, the water recycling system the astronauts will install in the space station will test processes that can be improved for moon missions in the future.

7:01 p.m. – T-9 minutes and holding . . . The countdown for STS-126 has entered its last built-in hold. The countdown will resume at about 7:46 p.m. aiming for a 7:55 p.m. launch.

6:55 p.m. - One hour before launch. There are no technical issues and weather conditions are expected to remain favorable. The Closeout Crew has left the launch pad.

6:50 p.m. – The countdown has resumed and is now T-19 minutes and counting. The last planned hold will take place at T-9 minutes. It will last 45 minutes and give flight controllers an opportunity to refine the launch time to put Endeavour on the best track to catch the International Space Station.

6:45 p.m. - As Endeavour leaves the launch pad, it will fly generally northeast, roughly paralleling the East Coast of the United States. Because the liftoff is taking place at night, people along the coast could have a better chance of seeing the shuttle streak overhead, depending on local conditions.

6:40 p.m. – At T-20 minutes, the countdown has entered a planned hold. The pause will last 10 minutes. Weather concerns continue to fade as the weather forecast has increased to an 80 percent chance of acceptable conditions at launch time. There are no technical issues and everything remains on pace to launch Endeavour tonight on a mission to the International Space Station.

6:35 p.m. – The Closeout Crew has put the final seals on the hatch and is packing up the White Room before leaving the launch pad.

6:10 p.m. - At T-50 minutes and counting, launch controllers report working through a technical issue with a computer processor that sends data from a high-altitude weather balloon. The problem did not pose a threat to launch. NASA uses large weather balloons to record conditions in the upper atmosphere leading up to launch. The countdown is proceeding on schedule.

6 p.m. - Endeavour's hatch has been closed and latched shut. The Closeout Crew will leave the launch pad shortly. The hatch is built to open if there is an emergency that requires the astronauts to evacuate the shuttle.

5:55 p.m. - Two hours to launch. Shuttle Endeavour has shown no technical issues during the countdown and the weather appears to be cooperating, as well. The sun has set at Kennedy and Endeavour is illuminated on the launch pad. The Closeout Crew is preparing to close and latch Endeavour's hatch for flight.

5:40 p.m. - Working out of two firing rooms, the launch team performs numerous checks and tests leading up to launch. One firing room houses the launch director, NASA test directors -- known as NTDs – and system engineers who monitor individual shuttle systems throughout the countdown. If they notice an issue, they call on managers and engineers in a second firing room who will track down the problem in detail and offer solutions. The process allows the engineer in the first firing room to keep up with fast-changing events while an issue is given proper attention.

A third is used to oversee the processing of shuttles for future missions. The fourth firing room has been completely rebuilt to support NASA’s new rocket, the Ares I. That firing room, named for the first shuttle crew of John Young and Robert Crippen, will guide the first test flight of the Ares I program next year.

5:25 p.m. - Astronaut Steve Bowen has taken his seat on the flight deck.

5:14 p.m. - The astronauts are conducting radio checks with launch controllers at Kennedy and mission controllers at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston. They will test their microphones individually before testing them all as a group.

5:11 p.m. - Steve Bowen will be the last crew member inside the shuttle. Bowen is the first submariner to fly for NASA. As the flight engineer, he will aid Commander Chris Ferguson during ascent. Bowen will call out launch milestones and perform other duties so Ferguson can keep his attention focused on the launch.

5 p.m. - Shane Kimbrough has donned a cloth, black headset that the astronauts wear under their helmets. He will enter Endeavour momentarily. Kimbrough began his NASA career flying in the Shuttle Training Aircraft as a flight engineer so commanders and pilots could simulate landing a shuttle returning from space.

4:55 p.m. - It's now Donald Pettit's turn to take a spot inside the shuttle. Because he sits on the flight deck, which is the upper level of the crew compartment, he will help Pilot Eric Boe keep track of events during the flight into orbit by reading off milestones during ascent and taking care of other duties.

4:50 p.m. - Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper is preparing for her move into the shuttle. She is an accomplished Navy diver who found a natural career as a spacewalker. When training for a spacewalk, astronauts spend many hours underwater at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

4:45 p.m. - Pilot Eric Boe is taking his seat in Endeavour's cockpit. Toward the end of the mission, Boe will fly Endeavour around the International Space Station as astronauts survey the orbiting laboratory.

4:35 p.m. - Sandra Magnus is the next into Endeavour. As an International Space Station crew member, she is also trained to fly aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. STS-126 is her second flight. She served as a mission specialist during the STS-112 mission in 2002.

4:32 p.m. - Commander Chris Ferguson is the first to climb inside Endeavour. Smiling, he waved to his family before boarding the spacecraft. He will literally climb into his seat because he will be laying on his back for launch. All the astronauts have to lift their legs over their head as they get in their seats for the liftoff.

4:22 p.m. - The astronauts have arrived at the base of Launch Pad 39A. They can admire the spectacular sight for a couple minutes before getting into the elevator and heading up to the 195-foot level. They will take a short walkway to the White Room and Endeavour's hatch. Only a couple astronauts go inside the White Room at a time because of its size. They also board Endeavour in a specific order to best use the space inside the crew compartment.

4:15 p.m. - The astronauts are riding to the launch pad under clear skies with a hint of clouds. The weather concerns have not materialized thus far and the forecast continues to look good heading toward launch time this evening.

4:05 p.m. - STS-126 Commander Chris Ferguson leads his crew out of the Operations and Checkout Building and into the Astrovan. The Astrovan will take the seven astronauts to Endeavour on Launch Pad 39A. It will take about 30 minutes for the astronauts to reach the launch pad and make their way up to the White Room where they will board Endeavour.

4 p.m. - The countdown has resumed at T-3 hours and counting. The countdown will proceed to the T-20-minute mark where it will hold for a planned 10 minutes. There are no technical issues and the process is moving along smoothly.

3:45 p.m. - The astronauts have donned orange launch-and-entry suits in the Operations & Checkout building. The suit room is just down the hall from the Astronaut Crew Quarters inside the O&C building. The crew will soon leave the building for a ride in the Astrovan out to Launch Pad 39A where Endeavour is waiting for them.

3:25 p.m. - In the interest of scene-setting, here is a taste of what the firing rooms look like.

They are housed inside the Launch Control Center at Kennedy Space Center about three miles away from Launch Complex 39A.

Each room is big enough to house an average fast-food restaurant. Vast windows angled skyward and facing Launch Complex 39A and 39B make up one wall. Several rows of consoles near the back row are on risers like the seats in a stadium-style movie theater. This is where the launch director and senior members of the launch team sit.

A pair of small rooms separated by glass occupy each corner of the overall firing room. Senior NASA officials monitor the countdown from there.

The rest of the floor is taken by cabinets in large horseshoe patterns. This is where most of the launch team sits. Nameplates stand on each cabinet to show the controllers’ responsibility, such as the shuttle main engines.

There are about 100 controllers in the room, including the launch director and managers. Each controller has monitors and can call up camera angles covering almost every angle of the shuttle on the launch pad. They can zoom in on small areas to assess conditions during the count.

They also have numerous audio networks they can dial into to talk to other controllers and give status reports. The networks are called “loops” and controllers are known to develop keen hearing that lets them listen to several ongoing conversations at a time without losing their way. There are also several telephones around every station.

The primary firing room has computer consoles built into wood-colored cabinets that give it the look of a corporate conference room. Firing Room 3, where the Launch Blog is based for this mission, looks more like the Hollywood portrayal of control rooms in such films as "Space Cowboys" and "Apollo 13." The cabinets are blue metal and the monitors a bit smaller. PC screens and towers have been installed throughout the firing room and the controllers have the same access to audio and video loops as their counterparts in the other firing rooms.

3:20 p.m. - The weather outlook is improving and Launch Director Mike Leinbach sees little chance for interference with tonight's launch attempt. The countdown remains on schedule for a 7:55 p.m. liftoff.

3:10 p.m. - Launch day activities involve sites throughout NASA's Kennedy Space Center. The Launch Control Center is the nerve center for launch. It was designed around four firing rooms for the Saturn V moon rocket, the most powerful booster NASA ever built. The LCC, as it is called, is a four-story building standing next to the gargantuan Vehicle Assembly Building.

A vast array of cables and wiring connects the LCC with the shuttle processing hangars and the Vehicle Assembly Building so engineers in the firing rooms can perform numerous tests on the shuttles as they are readied for launch.

3 p.m. - Seven astronauts will fly Endeavour to the International Space Station. They are commanded by Chris Ferguson, a veteran astronaut who served as pilot on STS-115. He will sit in the left-hand seat at the front of the cockpit.

Eric Boe will sit in the right-hand seat at the front of the cockpit as pilot of Endeavour during Boe’s first mission. His controls are duplicates of Ferguson’s, and Boe can fly the shuttle from his position.

As the flight engineer, Mission Specialist Steve Bowen, also a first-time flier, will sit behind and between Ferguson and Boe. Mission Specialist Donald Pettit, who lived aboard the station for five months, will sit next to Bowen on the upper level of Endeavour’s crew compartment.

Three mission specialists will sit on the lower level. Veteran astronaut Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper will sit closest to the hatch. Once in space, she will be the lead spacewalker for three excursions outside the orbiting laboratory.

Shane Kimbrough, who will also make three spacewalks, will sit in the middle seat during launch. Sandra Magnus will ride into orbit in the seat farthest from the hatch. She will not return aboard Endeavour, but instead remain on the International Space Station for a long-duration mission. Current station resident Greg Chamitoff will take her place aboard Endeavour.

2:55 p.m. - Endeavour stands poised for space at Launch Complex 39A. A team of technicians called the Closeout Crew is preparing for their role of getting the STS-126 astronauts into the orbiter. The astronauts will not arrive until about 4:35 p.m. Another team called the Final Inspection Team has been scanning the shuttle stack for signs of ice buildup on the external tank. They use infrared scanners and binoculars to survey the tank.

2:50 p.m. - With the launch team working no technical issues, all eyes are watching the weather. Meteorologists are tracking an approaching cold front that appears to be on pace to arrive Saturday. The forecast calls for a 70 percent chance that Endeavour will face acceptable conditions at launch time. Currently, there are only wisps of white clouds at the launch site.

2:45 p.m. - The gigantic external tank attached to space shuttle Endeavour was loaded with 500,000 gallons of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen this morning beginning at about 11 a.m. It took about 2½ hours to fill the tank with the propellants that fuel the shuttle’s three main engines during the 8½-minute climb into space.

A team of controllers in Firing Room 4 watched their monitors as the hydrogen and oxygen flowed into the tank. The fueling is performed by remote control, with the launch team commanding valves to open so the chemicals can run from storage tanks at Launch Complex 39A.

Pipes carry the oxygen and hydrogen to the mobile launcher platform holding Endeavour, its boosters and tank. The propellants run through a network of lines on the platform and into Endeavour’s aft compartment and then into the tank itself.

The flow reverses during launch, when all the stored propellants are siphoned quickly back into Endeavour to feed the main engines.

The controllers will continue to examine the readouts from sensors inside the shuttle and tank throughout the countdown to make sure the fuel levels remain full. The oxygen is kept at minus-297 degrees and the hydrogen is minus-423 degrees – both cold enough to liquefy into a slush. Some of the gases warm up just enough to evaporate out, however, so a trickle of oxygen and hydrogen keep flowing to the tank to replace the evaporating gas.

2:40 p.m. - The countdown is in a built-in hold at T-3 hours, but everything remains on schedule for a 7:55 p.m. liftoff. The countdown will resume at 4 p.m. and the astronauts will leave the Astronaut Crew Quarters a few minutes later to make their way to the launch pad.

2:30 p.m. - Good afternoon from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, where space shuttle Endeavour will thunder into space in a few hours at 7:55 p.m. EST. The shuttle has been loaded with equipment and supplies bound for the International Space Station. About 14,500 pounds of cargo is inside the Leonardo module. Endeavour is also carrying a platform in its payload bay that holds a 2,000-pound device called a Flex Hose Rotary Coupler Unit.

Today’s launch blog comes from inside Firing Room 3 of the Launch Control Center at Kennedy. As the countdown moves toward liftoff, we will give you a taste of some of the activity inside the firing rooms.


Launch Target:
7:55 p.m. EST
Nov. 14, 2008
Orbiter:
Endeavour
Mission Number:
STS-126
(124th space shuttle flight)
Launch Window:
10 minutes
Launch Pad:
39A
Mission Duration:
15 days
Landing Site:
KSC
Inclination/Altitude:
51.6 degrees/122 nautical miles
Primary Payload:
27th station flight (ULF2), Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM)

Lights twinkle at Launch Pad 39A as space shuttle Endeavour awaits launch at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Photo credit: NASA/KSC

All seven astronauts are secured in their designated seats aboard space shuttle Endeavour and are performing communication checks with Mission Control at NASA's Johnson Space Center in Houston.

Liftoff of Endeavour on the STS-126 mission is scheduled for 7:55 p.m. EST. There are no technical issues being reported and the weather over NASA's Kennedy Space Center continues to improve for launch

Space Shuttle Atlantis at launch pad for March 15, 2007 launch

02.15.07 - 7:15 p.m. EST
The Space Shuttle Atlantis arrived at Launch Pad 39A at Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 3:09 p.m. EST. Atlantis began its 3.4 mile journey from the Vehicle Assembly Building at 8:19 a.m. It traveled just under 1 mph.



The launch of Mission STS-117 will be the first liftoff from Pad 39A in four years.







The next milestone for this mission is a full launch dress rehearsal, known as the terminal countdown demonstration test from Feb. 21 to 23 at Kennedy. The test provides the crew an opportunity to participate in various simulated countdown activities, including equipment familiarization and emergency egress training.

The flight of Atlantis to the International Space Station has been targeted for March 15. During the 11-day mission, the six-member crew will install a new truss segment, retract a set of solar arrays and unfold a new set on the starboard side of the station. Lessons learned from two previous missions will provide the astronauts with new techniques and tools to perform their duties.

Commanding the 117 crew is Frederick Sturckow, a veteran of two shuttle missions (STS-88, STS-105), while Lee Archambault will be making his first flight as the shuttle's pilot. Mission Specialists James Reilly (STS-89, STS-104) and Patrick Forrester (STS-105) will be returning to the station. Steven Swanson and John Olivas, both mission specialists, join the crew for their first flight into space.





























Image above: The crew of STS-117 pose for their official portrait. From left are mission specialists James Reilly II and Steven Swanson, Commander Frederick Sturckow, Pilot Lee Archambault and mission specialists Patrick Forrester and John D. Olivas. Image credit: NASA

Frederick Sturckow, a Marine colonel, will command STS-117. The mission will deliver the second and third starboard truss segments (S3/S4) and another pair of solar arrays to the space station. Pilot Lee Archambault, an Air Force colonel, joins Sturckow in the Shuttle’s cockpit. Mission specialists James Reilly II, Ph.D., Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson, Ph.D., and John D. Olivas, Ph.D., round out the crew. STS-117 is the 21st shuttle mission to the International Space Station.

STS-117: Just Do It -- Again

If you missed either of the last two missions, now would be the time to catch up.

When Atlantis heads for the International Space Station in March, its mission may sound a little familiar. The crew will install a new truss segment, unfurl new solar arrays and fold up an old one – all tricky stuff that’s been done on the past two missions.