Mission Endeavour: Delivering Space Station's Japanese Porch
The space shuttle Endeavour and its crew of seven astronauts flew a 16-day mission to the International Space Station in July 2009 on a marathon flight to complete the outpost?s Japanese laboratory.
Endeavour
launched July 15 under the command of veteran spaceflyer Mark Polansky, who led
his crew through five spacewalks to add a new experiment porch to Japan?s Kibo
lab and upgrade the station.
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Below is SPACE.com?s special report archive of stories from Endeavour?s STS-128 mission. Stories appear in reverse chronological order, with the most recent updates first. This page was updated on Aug. 21, 2009.
At Home on Earth
Shuttle
Endeavour Lands Safely in Florida
HOUSTON - Space
shuttle Endeavour touched down in Florida on Friday morning, bringing to an end
a successful 16-day mission to complete Japan's Kibo science laboratory at the
International Space Station (ISS).
Space
Shuttle Endeavour to Land Today
The seven
astronauts aboard the shuttle Endeavour are hoping for clear skies over Florida
today as they prepare to land after a marathon flight to the International
Space Station.
Shuttle
Astronauts Deploy Satellites Ahead of Landing
Astronauts aboard
the space shuttle Endeavour successfully deployed two sets of tiny satellites
Thursday as they received word they were cleared to come home.
Great
Lakes Water Returning to Earth with Shuttle Crew
Before undocking
from the International Space Station Tuesday, the crew aboard the shuttle
Endeavour transferred nearly 1,200 pounds of water to the orbiting outpost. But
one crewmember kept a small, but very special, set of water samples for the
ride home.
Japanese
Space Underwear Keeps Stink Out
A set of high-tech
Japanese underwear has passed the ultimate smell test in space.
Japanese
Astronaut Craves Sushi
After more than
four months in space, Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata is eagerly looking
forward to the taste of fresh sushi and other comfort foods when he returns to
Earth Friday aboard the shuttle Endeavour.
Astronauts
Scan Space Shuttle Heat Shield For Dings
Astronauts aboard
the space shuttle Endeavour took one last look at their spacecraft's heat
shield Wednesday to hunt for any new damage sustained on its marathon flight to
the International Space Station.
Shuttle
Endeavour Undocks From Space Station
The space shuttle
Endeavour cast off from the International Space Station Tuesday after a
whirlwind 11 days of construction work at the orbiting laboratory.
Shuttle
Astronauts Set to Leave Space Station
The 13 people
aboard the International Space Station will say their farewells and split up
Tuesday when the crew of the shuttle Endeavour undocks from the orbiting
laboratory.
Construction Success
Sleeping
in Space is Easy, But There's No Shower
Astronauts may have
some tough jobs in orbit - like building a $100 billion International Space
Station - but apparently getting a good night's sleep isn't one of them.
Spacewalkers
Wrap Up Space Station Service Call
Two
astronauts wrapped up some final maintenance work on the International Space
Station Monday during the fifth and last planned spacewalk of their mission to
the orbital lab.
Astronauts
to Take Fifth Spacewalk at Space Station
Two astronauts will
venture outside the International Space Station Monday to tackle some final
tasks in the fifth and last spacewalk of their mission to the orbiting laboratory.
Crowded
Space Station Has International Flair, Astronaut Says
The
International Space Station may feel a bit crowded with 13 people aboard, but
the population boost has also given it a multicultural flair, an astronaut said
Sunday.
NASA
Revives Air-Scrubbing System on Space Station
NASA engineers have
revived a vital air-scrubbing system on the International Space Station and are
hunting for the source of the glitch that sent it offline.
Astronauts
Pack Up Japanese Cargo Carrier
Astronauts on the
International Space Station will get back to work Sunday after a much needed
day off in order to retrieve a Japanese cargo carrier from the outpost's brand
new experiment porch.
For 13
Astronauts, a Day Off in Space
The 13 people
living on the International Space Station took some hard-earned time off
Saturday, a welcome relief after a hectic week of orbital construction.
Spacewalkers
Add New Batteries to Space Station
Two determined
astronauts added a fresh set of vital batteries on the International Space
Station Friday during an extra-long spacewalk made more so by the need to take
things slow and steady.
Astronauts
to Replace More Aging Batteries in Spacewalk
Two astronauts will
head out on an extra-long spacewalk Friday to make up for lost time after a
spacesuit glitch waylaid efforts to replace old space station batteries earlier
this week.
Space Station?s Japanese Lab Complete
Japanese
Experiments Moved to Space Station
It was a banner day
for Japan at the International Space Station Thursday, where astronauts
successfully installed a set of experiments on a brand new porch on the end of
the outpost's massive Japanese laboratory.
NASA
Replans Spacewalks For Shuttle Astronauts
NASA is reworking plans for the last two
spacewalks for astronauts visiting the International Space Station as the
outpost's crew prepares to add the first experiments to the orbiting lab's new
Japanese porch today.
With
Spacesuit Glitches, NASA Takes No Chances
When an unexpected
glitch pops up in an astronaut's spacesuit during a spacewalk, NASA takes no
chances. If it looks like a problem, it's time to call it quits.
Astronauts
to Change Space Batteries in Spacewalk
Two astronauts will
head outside the International Space Station Wednesday to begin the delicate
task of replacing old batteries at the very edge of the orbital outpost.
What
Happens If You Sneeze in Space?
Sneezes can pack a
wallop on Earth, but for an astronaut in a spacesuit they can also make a mess
of things, a veteran spacewalker said Tuesday.
Astronauts
Tackle Tricky Crane Work in Space
Astronauts used two
space cranes to attach a Japanese experiment carrier to the International Space
Station's new porch Tuesday so its vital cargo can be delivered later this
week.
Astronauts
Mark Apollo 11 Anniversary With Spacewalk
Two spacewalking
astronauts ventured outside the International Space Station Monday to stock the
outpost with vital spare parts on a day that, 40 years ago, saw the first-ever
moon landing by people from Earth.
Astronaut
Plumber Fixes Broken Space Toilet
The 13 people
aboard the crowded International Space Station can breathe a bit easier now
that some astronaut plumbers have fixed a broken zero gravity toilet.
Astronauts
to Mark Apollo Moon Landing With Spacewalk
Astronauts will
unload some spare parts for the International Space Station Monday in a
spacewalk that comes 40 years to the day of the first moon landing by men from
Earth.
Space construction at ISS
Astronauts
Unload Spare Parts Platform At Space Station
Astronauts on the
International Space Station performed complex robotic maneuvers Sunday to
unload a new spare parts container from the shuttle Endeavour.
Astronauts
To Perform Complex Robotic Work
Astronauts on the
International Space Station are taking a break from spacewalking to perform
some complex robotic maneuvers Sunday.
No
Focused Inspection Needed For Shuttle Heat Shield, NASA Says
NASA decided the space shuttle Endeavour does not need a
focused inspection of its heat shield to make sure it's safe to return home.
Astronauts
Add Porch to Space Station
Spacewalkers and
robotic arm operators attached the final piece of the International Space
Station's Japanese Kibo laboratory - an exposed platform for science
experiments.
Space
Station Toilet Troubled
One of two
toilets on the International Space Station is apparently broken, NASA announced
Sunday.
Shuttle
Astronauts Gear Up for First Spacewalk
Astronauts are
gearing up for a spacewalk Saturday to prepare a new Japanese research porch to
be installed on the space station.
Historic Docking: 13 People on ISS
Space
Station Population Hits Record High
The International
Space Station is now more crowded than it's ever been before, with a record
number of 13 people onboard.
Space
Station, Shuttle Dodge Space Junk
The space shuttle
Endeavour fired its thrusters late Friday just hours after linking up with the
International Space Station in order to move the outpost clear of a piece of
orbital junk.
Shuttle
Endeavour Arrives at Space Station
The long-awaited
crew of the space shuttle Endeavour finally arrived at the International Space
Station Friday to begin a two-week construction visit.
Shuttle
Endeavour Closes in on Space Station
The space shuttle
Endeavour and its seven-astronaut crew plan to arrive at the International
Space Station Friday for a long-awaited visit more than a month overdue.
NASA
Weighs Heat Shield Dings on Shuttle
NASA is not too
worried about debris that appeared to fall from the space shuttle Endeavour's
external fuel tank during its liftoff Wednesday, but is perplexed about why the
bits of foam insulation fell from an unexpected spot.
5
Shuttle Launch Scrubs Cost Millions
The repeated launch
delays for the space shuttle Endeavour were not just frustrating, but
expensive.
Endeavour
Astronauts Inspect Shuttle Heat Shield
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. - Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Endeavour will scan their orbiter's
heat shield on Thursday to search for any damage from debris that fell from the
spacecraft's external tank during its launch into orbit.
NASA
Eyes Debris Hits to Shuttle Heat Shield
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. - Better late than never. NASA celebrated the tardy launch of the space
shuttle Endeavour late Wednesday and is looking into several bits of debris
spotted during the spacecraft's liftoff.
Shuttle
Endeavour Blasts Off Toward Space Station
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. - The space shuttle Endeavour finally beat the weather late Wednesday as
it blasted off on an ambitious, if belated, construction mission to the
International Space Station after five frustrating delays.
Launch Delay Woes
Space
Shuttle Poised for Sixth Launch Attempt Today
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. - NASA is hoping the sixth time is the charm for the space shuttle Endeavour,
which is poised to make yet another launch attempt late Wednesday after
repeated delays.
Astronauts
Take a Break From Shuttle Launch Delays
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla.
- Astronauts have a reputation for their super-human commitment to a mission,
but even spaceflyers like the shuttle Endeavor's crew need a break once in a
while - especially after the trying ordeal of five launch scrubs.
NASA
Prepares Shuttle For Sixth Launch Attempt
CAPE
CANAVERAL, Fla. - After a string of vexing delays, NASA is once more preparing
the space shuttle Endeavour for what will be its sixth launch attempt late
Wednesday.
The
History of Shuttle Launch Delays
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. - NASA's latest launch delay for the space shuttle Endeavour on Monday
marked the fifth failed attempt to get the beleaguered mission off the ground.
The tally may seem high, but it is not the record for the most vexed shuttle
flight.
Stormy
Weather Delays Space Shuttle Launch Again
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. - Stormy weather again foiled NASA's plans to launch the space shuttle
Endeavour late Monday, the fifth setback for the delay-plagued mission.
Shuttle
Launch Today Depends on No Rain
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. - NASA is trying yet again to launch the space shuttle Endeavour Monday,
despite a good chance of rain showers that threaten to delay the mission for a
potential fifth time.
NASA
to Try For Monday Space Shuttle Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. - NASA aims to give the space shuttle Endeavour a fifth shot at launching
into orbit today after being waylaid by a series of unfortunate events for more
than a month.
Thunderstorms
Delay Space Shuttle Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. - NASA abandoned plans to launch the space shuttle Endeavour for the
fourth time in a row on Sunday, this time because of stormy weather that crept
too close to an emergency runway.
Shuttle
Endeavour "Go" For Launch Today
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. - The space shuttle Endeavour is "Go" to launch today, NASA
said, after ground crews found no signs of damage from a lightning strike on
Friday.
Why
Lightning Struck the Shuttle Launch Pad
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. ? The lightning that thwarted today's planned launch of the space shuttle
Endeavour is a familiar problem for NASA's shuttle fleet.
NASA
Delays Shuttle Launch To Investigate Possible Lightning Damage
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. - The oft-delayed space shuttle Endeavour will have to wait at least one
more day to launch while NASA investigates whether lightning strikes near the
launch pad yesterday caused any damage.
Shuttle
Endeavour to Make Third Launch Try Today
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. - After a month of delays, the beleaguered space shuttle Endeavour is
aiming to lift off tonight toward the International Space Station, but only if
the weather cooperates.
Final
Countdown: A Guide to NASA's Last Space Shuttle Missions
The planned
Saturday evening launch of the space shuttle Endeavour may be the third orbiter
flight this year, but it is one of just eight remaining missions before NASA
mothballs its space plane fleet next year.
NASA
Clears Shuttle Endeavour for Saturday Launch
NASA has officially
cleared the space shuttle Endeavour for its third launch attempt on Saturday,
with the chance of thunderstorms posing the only threat to the mission after
nearly a month of delays.
Weather
Still Iffy for Saturday Shuttle Launch
After weeks of
repair work to plug a hydrogen leak on the space shuttle Endeavour, NASA is now
watching the weather for the spacecraft's planned Saturday launch.
Stormy
Weather May Delay Shuttle Launch
NASA's space
shuttle Endeavour is ready for its planned launch into orbit this weekend,
though stormy weather could delay liftoff, mission managers said Wednesday.
Shuttle
Astronauts Arrive at Spaceport for Saturday Launch
The crew of the
space shuttle Endeavour arrived at NASA's Florida spaceport on Tuesday to
prepare for a planned weekend blast off after nearly a month of delays.
Space
Shuttle to Launch July 11 After Successful Leak Test
NASA will try to
launch the space shuttle Endeavour on July 11, nearly a month late, after
plugging a potentially dangerous hydrogen gas leak, top mission managers said
Wednesday.
NASA
Performs Critical Space Shuttle Fueling Test
NASA fueled the
space shuttle Endeavour early Wednesday in an apparently successful test of
repairs aimed at eliminating a potentially dangerous hydrogen gas leak.
NASA
to Check Space Shuttle Fix With Fueling Test
NASA will
fuel up the space shuttle Endeavour's massive external tank next week to check
repairs aimed at stopping a hydrogen gas leak that has twice delayed the
spacecraft's launch.
Source
of Space Shuttle Gas Leak Pinpointed
CAPE CANAVERAL --
NASA engineers think they have pinpointed the cause of dangerous hydrogen leaks
that prompted back-to-back launch scrubs for shuttle Endeavour, and they plan
to conduct a fuel-loading test by the first of July.
NASA
Does Not Suspect Sabotage on Shuttle
NASA does not
suspect sabotage was behind the glitch that twice delayed the launch of the
space shuttle Endeavour recently.
Astronauts
Adopt Alligator as Mascot
The space shuttle
Endeavour's STS-127 mission could use some luck from its mascot.
Gas Leak Hunt
Gas
Leak Prevents Space Shuttle Launch Again
CAPE
CANAVERAL, Fla. - The space shuttle Endeavour's launch plans were thwarted
again early Wednesday when a hydrogen gas leak, the same glitch that stopped
the spacecraft from lifting off last week, appeared for a second time.
Space
Shuttle Endeavour Poised to Launch Wednesday
The space shuttle
Endeavour is once more poised to launch into orbit early Wednesday after a
four-day delay caused by a hydrogen gas leak.
500th
Person to Space Launching on Shuttle Endeavour
Among the seven
astronauts launching on space shuttle Endeavour on Saturday, four are making
their first flight, an achievement in any astronaut's career. One of those
four, however, will also be setting a benchmark as the 500th person in history
to fly into space.
Swing
Shift: Astronauts Redefine Night and Day
Seven astronauts
have snoozed away the days before their planned launch aboard the space shuttle
Endeavour, but it is all part of their plan for an overnight mission so extreme
that one spaceflyer dubbed it a "stealth flight."
NASA
Delays Moon Mission for Wednesday Shuttle Launch
NASA has delayed a
high-priority moon mission to make way for the space shuttle Endeavour to
launch Wednesday.
NASA
Hopes to Launch Shuttle Endeavour on Wednesday
NASA will try to
squeeze in a launch attempt for the space shuttle Endeavour on Wednesday, just
days ahead of a different rocket also set to send two unmanned probes to the
moon this week, mission managers said Sunday.
Gas
Leak Thwarts Space Shuttle Launch
CAPE
CANAVERAL, Fla. -- The space shuttle Endeavour and its seven-astronaut crew
will have to wait through at least four days of delay before launching toward
the International Space Station after a gas leak thwarted their planned
Saturday morning liftoff.
Launching
Saturday: Shuttle Endeavour Headed for Space Station
CAPE CANAVERAL,
Fla. - Seven astronauts are set to blast off on the space shuttle Endeavour
Saturday morning on an ambitious mission bound for the International Space
Station.
Japanese Space Porch Headed for Space
Space
Station Headed for Population Explosion
The fully
staffed International Space Station is about to get even more crowded when
seven shuttle astronauts join the six men already aboard, boosting the number
of people aboard to 13 - its highest population ever.
Shuttle
Endeavour Cleared for Saturday Launch
CAPE
CANAVERAL, Fla. - The space shuttle Endeavour is "go" to launch an
ambitious mission to the International Space Station on Saturday, NASA managers
said today.
NASA
Targets June 13 Launch for Shuttle Endeavour
NASA's
space shuttle Endeavour is officially set to blast off toward the International
Space Station on June 13 to finish work on the $100 billion outpost's massive
Japanese lab.
Japanese
Space Porch to Fly on Shuttle Endeavour
The International
Space Station's Kibo laboratory is about to get a new porch, the last big piece
of the outpost's already massive Japanese-built segment.
Weather
Looks Pristine for Saturday Shuttle Launch
NASA has begun
counting down to the planned Saturday morning launch of the space shuttle
Endeavour and is expecting pristine weather conditions for blast off.
Shuttle
Endeavour on Track for Saturday Launch
NASA's shuttle
Endeavour is on track for a planned weekend launch toward the International
Space Station, mission managers said Tuesday.
Astronauts
Gear Up for Space Construction Marathon
Seven astronauts
are gearing up for what they expect to be a grueling orbital construction
mission to the International Space Station this week aboard the shuttle
Endeavour.
NASA
Targets June 13 Launch for Shuttle Endeavour
NASA's space
shuttle Endeavour is officially set to blast off toward the International Space
Station on June 13 to finish work on the $100 billion outpost's massive
Japanese lab.
Shuttle
Endeavour Moves to Launch Pad for June Mission
The space shuttle
Endeavour rolled from one Florida launch pad to another on Sunday in
preparation for a complicated June construction flight to the International
Space Station.
Docking
Boosts Space Station's Population to Full Size of 6
Welcome to the
International Space Station, Population: 6. The space station finally reached
its full crew size early Friday when three new spaceflyers arrived to double
the number of people aboard after more than 10 years of construction in orbit.
NASA:
Next Space Shuttle Launch May Be Delayed
WASHINGTON - Fresh
on the heels of a successful flight to the Hubble Space Telescope, NASA is
again gearing up to launch a space shuttle into orbit, but bad weather could
delay the June spaceflight, mission managers said Thursday.
More Resources
- Complete Shuttle Mission Coverage
- Complete International Space Station Expedition Coverage
- Complete
Coverage: ISS Expedition 16
Click here for SPACE.com's complete archive of the Expedition 16 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS) during NASA's STS-123 shuttle mission. - Japan's
Contribution to the ISS
An archival look at Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's contribution to the International Space Station project. - Fixing NASA: Complete Coverage
of Space Shuttle Return to Flight
SPACE.com's complete coverage of NASA's STS-114 Return to Flight mission. - Special Report: STS-107
Columbia Disaster
SPACE.com's complete coverage of NASA's 2003 Columbia accident. - All About the Space Shuttle
- All About the International Space Station
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