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Shuttle Endeavour Poised for Last Launch
NASA's space shuttle Endeavour stands poised to launch on its final mission STS-134, its 25th and last mission before retirement. Liftoff is set for May 16, 2011 from Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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Shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 Crew Walkout
The six astronauts of Endeavour's STS-134 mission - the final flight of NASA's youngest orbiter - depart the Operations & Checkout building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla. on May 16. The astronauts boarded the "Astro Van" at 5:11 a.m. EDT to journey to Endeavour's seaside Launch Pad 39A.
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Space Shuttle Endeavour Glistens in the Sun
Credit: NASA/Frank Michaux
Space shuttle Endeavour glistens in the sun on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The shuttle is launching on its final mission, STS-134, on May 16, 2011.
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The Obamas Meet the STS-134 Astronauts
Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama share a laugh with STS-134 space shuttle Endeavor commander Mark Kelly (with back to camera), right, and shuttle astronauts, from left, Andrew Feustel, European Space Agency’s Roberto Vittori, Michael Fincke, Gregory H. Johnson, and Greg Chamitoff, after their launch was scrubbed, Friday, April 29, 2011, at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
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Lightning Strikes Over Shuttle Endeavour
Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls
The space shuttle Endeavour is seen on launch pad 39a as a storm passes by prior to the rollback of the Rotating Service Structure (RSS), Thursday, April 28, 2011, at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla.
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You Are Not Spock
Credit: NASA
This shuttle mission (STS-134) can't go wrong with a poster parodying a movie reboot of the 1960s cult hit "Star Trek."
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STS-134 Crew Countdown Rehearsal
Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
The astronauts of STS-134 came to Kennedy Space Center recently for countdown rehearsal. The real countdown for Space shuttle Endeavour is scheduled for Friday afternoon, April 29, 2011. From left, the astronauts are Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Gregory H. Johnson and Mission Specialists Mike Fincke, Drew Feustel, Roberto Vittori and Greg Chamitoff.
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Packing Up the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer
Credit: NASA/Glenn Benson
Technicians examine the $2 billion Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer instrument in a work stand ahead of its planned launch on NASA's space shuttle Endeavour. The AMS instrument will search for cosmic rays from the International Space Station.
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Endeavour's Skipper and the Scientist
Credit: NASA/Cory Huston
Endeavour shuttle commander Mark Kelly, left, and Nobel laureate Sam Ting (principal investigator for the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer) look over the instrument as it sits in a work stand at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Kelly will command the STS-134 mission to take the AMS to the International Space Station. The cutting edge instrument is the brainchild of Ting.
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STS-134 Crew Photo
Credit: NASA
Pictured clockwise in the STS-134 crew portrait are NASA astronauts Mark Kelly (bottom center), commander; Gregory H. Johnson, pilot; Michael Fincke, Greg Chamitoff, Andrew Feustel and European Space Agency’s Roberto Vittori, all mission specialists.
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Space Shuttle Endeavour's Fans
Credit: NASA/Frankie Martin
At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, employees hold up a banner to commemorate space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission as it is moved from its hangar to the Vehicle Assembly Building on Feb. 28, 2011. The shuttle is due to launch its final mission STS-134 on April 19, 2011.
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Mark Kelly with Gabrielle Giffords
Credit: Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords' office
Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (right) with her husband, NASA astronaut Mark Kelly.
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Crews Move Payload for Endeavour's STS-134 Mission
Credit: NASA
Crews move the primary payload for space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission into the Payload Changeout Room on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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Shuttle Endeavour Meets Last Fuel Tank
Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
In the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, shuttle Endeavour is lowered into place where it is being attached to its external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters, already positioned on the mobile launcher platform. The shuttle is slated to launch its final mission STS-134 in May 2011..
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Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer - Artist's Concept
Credit: NASA
Artist's concept of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, a particle physics detector that will be installed on the starboard truss of the International Space Station.
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Endeavour Rolls to Launch Pad
Credit: NASA
Space shuttle Endeavour begins its slow move from High Bay 3 in the Vehicle Assembly Building to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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Endeavour's Shadow Silhouette
Credit: NASA TV
The space shuttle Endeavour casts a shadow on NASA's enormous Vehicle Assembly Building as it rolls to the launch pad for its final mission STS-134 on March 10, 2011 at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Endeavour is slated to launch on the mission on April 19.
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Bright Lights, Big Shuttle
Credit: NASA TV
NASA's space shuttle Endeavour heads to the launch pad for its final mission, STS-134, while bathed in bright xenon spotlights on March 10, 2011 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Endeavour will fly its 25th and last mission during the STS-134 flight.
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Shuttle Endeavour at Launch Pad 39A
Credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
Space shuttle Endeavour stands at Launch Pad 39A near the Atlantic seashore at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The shuttle is slated to launch on its final mission, STS-134.
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Astronaut Mark Kelly on the Space Shuttle
Credit: NASA
Astronaut Mark Kelly takes a moment for a photo near the commander's station on the forward flight deck of Space Shuttle Discovery during the STS-124 mission.
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Astronaut Double Take: Identical Twins Headed for Space Station
Credit: NASA TV
Twin brothers Scott Kelly and Mark Kelly, both NASA astronauts, are set to meet in space next year. Mark will command the last mission of the space shuttle Endeavour, STS-134, while Scott will lead the International Space Station's Expedition 26 mission.
Full story.
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Mark Kelly in T-38 Training Jet
Credit: NASA
Astronaut Mark Kelly, STS-121 pilot, prepares for a flight in a NASA T-38 trainer jet at Ellington Field near Johnson Space Center.
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Mark E. Kelly
Credit: NASA
Astronaut Mark E. Kelly, commander of STS-124, poses for a preflight photo.
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Space Station Experiment to Hunt Antimatter Galaxies
Credit: NASA/MIT
An artist's concept of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer installed on the International Space Station.
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The Payload Moves
Credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
A canister carrying the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS) and Express Logistics Carrier-3 for space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission moves past the Vehicle Assembly Building on its journey from the Canister Rotation Facility to Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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The Payload Arrives
Credit: NASA/Cory Huston
A canister carrying the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS) and Express Logistics Carrier-3 for space shuttle Endeavour's STS-134 mission arrives at Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
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Shuttle Endeavour on the Launch Pad
Credit: NASA
At NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, space shuttle Endeavour awaits its final liftoff from Launch Pad 39A.
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Space Shuttle Endeavour Glistens in the Sun
Credit: NASA/Frank Michaux
Space shuttle Endeavour glistens in the sun on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The shuttle is launching on its final mission, STS-134, on May 16, 2011.
