Mission Endeavour: Space Station's New Room and Windows

The space shuttle Endeavour launched on its second to last spaceflight, the STS-130 mission, on Feb. 8, 2010 to deliver a new observation deck and workroom to the International Space Station.

Commanded by veteran spaceflyer George Zamka, Endeavour flew a 14-day mission that delivered the new Tranquility module and Cupola, a seven-window observation portal for observing Earth and space.

Below is SPACE.com's special report on Endeavour's STS-130 mission, which marked the first shuttle flight of the year in 2010. This page was updated on Feb. 22, 2010.

Back on Earth

Astronaut Photographs Shuttle Landing From Space
When NASA's space shuttle Endeavour landed safely on Earth Sunday night, reporters weren't the only ones pointing cameras at the returning spaceship. An astronaut took his own snapshot of the shuttle landing from space.

Space Station 98% Complete with 4 Shuttle Flights Remaining
With the successful landing of the space shuttle Endeavour Sunday night, the International Space Station is on the verge of completion after $100 billion and 11 years of construction. NASA plans just four more missions to wrap up its few remaining station deliveries.

Space Shuttle Endeavour Lands Safely in Florida
HOUSTON - Space shuttle Endeavour touched down safely in Florida Sunday evening, beating a stormy weather forecast after delivering NASA's last major additions to the International Space Station (ISS).

Endeavour Shuttle Astronauts Headed for Florida Landing
Space shuttle Endeavour and its crew of six astronauts are headed home, wrapping up a two-week mission that left the International Space Station nearly complete and added a breathtaking set of windows to the orbiting lab.

Weather Uncertain For Space Shuttle's Sunday Landing
Astronauts aboard NASA's space shuttle Endeavour are preparing their spaceship for a planned landing in Florida Sunday night, but low clouds and rain may keep them in space an extra day.

Space Station Computer Failure Knocks Out Communications Briefly
A main computer failure aboard the International Space Station knocked out communications between the orbiting laboratory and Earth for a short time Sunday, but the station has since recovered, NASA officials said.

Astronauts Hold Winter Olympics in Space
They don't have snow or ice, but an international team of astronauts held their own weightless Winter Olympics this week. Their venue: a $100 billion space station.

Space Station’s New Windows

Shuttle Endeavour Undocks From Space Station
NASA's space shuttle Endeavour cast off from the International Space Station late Friday, capping more than a week of orbital construction to add a phenomenal new lookout dome and room to the orbiting lab.

Shuttle Astronauts Pack Up to Leave Space Station
Astronauts aboard NASA's shuttle Endeavour packed up their spaceship for the trip home Thursday after more than a week at the International Space Station, but not before holding a grand opening ceremony for the orbiting lab's newest room and stunning observation deck.

President Obama Quizzes Astronauts on Life in Space
President Barack Obama quizzed astronauts aboard the International Space Station about life in orbit Wednesday and said he was committed to continuing the United States' space exploration program, even as NASA's plans for human spaceflight are in flux.

Astronauts Bask in Spectacular Views From New Space Windows
Astronauts in space are basking in what they described as "absolutely spectacular" views of Earth after cranking open the shutters on the International Space Station's new window-covered observation dome for the first time.

Astronauts Move Space Station Docking Port to New Home
Astronauts moved an old docking port to a new spot on the International Space Station late Monday in the second straight day of tricky crane work 220 miles above Earth.

Stunning Space Photo Shows Shuttle in Silhouette
Stunning new photographs released by NASA reveal the space shuttle Endeavour in silhouette against a colorful backdrop provided by the Earth.

Spacewalkers Hook Up Plumbing For New Space Station Room
Two spacewalking astronauts ventured outside the International Space Station late Saturday for a high-flying plumbing job on the orbiting laboratory's newest room.

Astronauts Tackle Glitch With Space Station's New Room
Astronauts have run into their first big glitch with the International Space Station's brand-new room, one that may delay plans for opening its long-awaited observation deck.

Astronauts Open Space Station's Newest Room
The International Space Station just got roomier. Astronauts opened the orbiting laboratory's brand-new room late Friday and quickly got to work moving things in.

Shuttle Endeavour's Heat Shield Cleared of Concerns
The space shuttle Endeavour's heat shield is in fine shape despite three minor defects, which pose no risk to the orbiter or its six-astronaut crew, a top NASA official said Friday.

Space Station Gets New Room, Windows in Spacewalk
The International Space Station got a bit bigger Thursday night thanks to two spacewalking astronauts who helped attach NASA's last major room for the orbiting lab and what promises to be the ultimate window on the world.

Shuttle Astronauts Gear Up For First Spacewalk
Two astronauts will float outside the International Space Station late Thursday to attach a new room and long-awaited observation deck to the orbiting laboratory.

Astronauts Work to Fix Space Urine Recycler
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station tackled a tricky repair of their urine recycling system Wednesday while engineers on Earth study two issues on the space shuttle Endeavour.

Earth's Gravity Kept Astronauts Waiting at Space Station's Door
Astronauts aboard space shuttle Endeavour had to wait an uncommonly long time to board the International Space Station. NASA blamed the orbital holdup on no less than the entire planet Earth — actually, its gravitational pull.

Shuttle Astronauts Make Midnight Docking at Space Station
The space shuttle Endeavour and its astronaut crew made a midnight docking at the International Space Station Wednesday to deliver NASA's last big room and a new set of windows to the high-flying laboratory.

Astronauts Inspect Shuttle for Damage
Astronauts aboard the space shuttle Endeavour inspected spacecraft Tuesday to search for any signs of heat shield damage as they head to the International Space Station.

Last Planned Shuttle Night Launch

Space Shuttle Endeavour Soars in Predawn Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - The space shuttle Endeavour lit up the predawn sky above Florida with a false sunrise early Monday as it soared into orbit like a brilliant, artificial star.

Astronauts Skip Super Bowl for Space Shuttle Launch
The six astronauts who rocketed into space early Monday will have to play football catch-up when they return home in a couple of weeks since they opted to skip watching the Super Bowl in order to blast off on the space shuttle Endeavour.

World's Largest Space Window Headed to Orbit
Talk about a room with a view. The largest space window ever built will launch aboard NASA's shuttle Endeavour on Sunday, part of a new seven-portal observation deck for the International Space Station.

NASA Aims for Monday Space Shuttle Launch After Delay
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA has fueled the space shuttle Endeavour for a planned predawn launch on Monday after a one-day delay due to thick clouds.

Space Shuttle Launch Delayed by Thick Clouds
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Thick clouds thwarted the attempted predawn launch of NASA's space shuttle Endeavour on Sunday, forcing the orbiter's six-astronaut crew to wait at least one more day before rocketing into orbit.

NASA Fuels Space Shuttle to Launch on Super Bowl Sunday
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA fueled the space shuttle Endeavour for the mother of all Super Bowl pregame shows – a predawn blastoff on Sunday that is expected to be the last night launch of an orbiter ever.

Space Shuttle Endeavour 'Go' for Sunday Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – NASA's space shuttle Endeavour is ready for its Sunday launch to the International Space Station – a planned predawn liftoff that is expected to be the last time an orbiter lifts off in darkness.

Countdown Going Well for Sunday Shuttle Launch
NASA has begun counting down toward the planned predawn launch of the space shuttle Endeavour on Sunday.

Weather Looks Good for Next Space Shuttle Launch
The weekend weather forecast is shaping up to give NASA's space shuttle Endeavour a good chance of blasting off before dawn on Sunday.

As Shuttle Launch Looms, NASA Workers in 'Shock' Over Future
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. - With the launch of space shuttle Endeavour just two days away, NASA workers are staying focused despite being in shock from the cancellation of the agency's moon program earlier this week.

Astronauts Ready for Shuttle Launch Amid NASA Uncertainty
WASHINGTON – Six NASA astronauts are ready to rocket into space on the shuttle Endeavour in just over a week as questions swirl over the impact of the space agency’s upcoming budget request.

NASA Aims to Launch Space Shuttle on Feb. 7
NASA has set a firm early February launch date for the space shuttle Endeavour to deliver a brand-new room and observation portal to the International Space Station.

Space Shuttle Astronauts Train for February Launch
The six astronauts preparing to fly into orbit aboard NASA's shuttle Endeavour next month arrived at their Florida launch site Monday for some final training sessions as engineers work to replace vital hoses for their cargo – a new space station room.

NASA Still Aims for February Shuttle Launch Despite Broken Hoses
NASA is still hoping to launch the shuttle Endeavour in early February as engineers scramble to repair broken hoses on the new space station module set to ride aboard the orbiter.

NASA Cuts Price for Retired Space Shuttles
NASA on Friday slashed its multi-million dollar price tag for museums looking to acquire one of its three space shuttle orbiters after they are retired later this year. The due date for the reduced payment, which dropped by almost one-third, was also advanced to be six months earlier than previously announced.

Pick a Patch: Polls Under Way to Select End-of-Shuttle Emblem
NASA's space shuttle program held an in-house contest over the past few months to have its prior and present employees design a commemorative patch marking the orbiters' upcoming retirement scheduled for later this year. 

Space Shuttle Endeavour Takes Frigid Trip to Launch Pad
NASA braved below-freezing temperatures in Florida Wednesday to move the space shuttle Endeavour to its seaside launch pad for a planned Feb. 7 blast off to the International Space Station.

NASA Weighs Potential Delay to Next Shuttle Mission
The failure of cooling system hoses during a test for a new space station module has engineers scratching their heads and NASA officials weighing the potential impact to the planned February launch of the space shuttle Endeavour, set to carry the module to space.

More Resources

• Complete Shuttle Mission Coverage
• Complete International Space Station Expedition Coverage
• 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