Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-134
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
7:10pm CDT
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- STS-134 Crew Portrait -
About above image: 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.
Image credit: NASA
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The STS-134 crew members are Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Gregory H. Johnson and Mission Specialists Michael Fincke, Greg Chamitoff, Andrew Feustel and European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori.
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During the 14-day mission, Endeavour will deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) and spare parts including two S-band communications antennas, a high-pressure gas tank and additional spare parts for Dextre and micrometeoroid debris shields. This will be the 36th Shuttle Mission to the International Space Station. [And its last.]
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- Mission info as of April 26th -
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Mission: STS-134
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STS-134 Mission Description: Space Shuttle Endeavour will deliver the Express Logistics Carrier-3 (ELC-3) and the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) to the International Space Station. This is the LAST FLIGHT EVER of Space Shuttle Endeavour.
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STS-134 Prelaunch Update
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
09:49am CDT
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At today's pre-launch countdown status briefing held at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, managers reported Space Shuttle Endeavour, its payload and crew are ready for launch at 3:47pm EDT Friday.
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NASA Test Director Jeremy Graeber reported everything is progressing on schedule for the 25th and final launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour.
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"Our teams here at Kennedy Space Center, and at NASA centers around the country, have been working for over a year to get Endeavour ready for the STS-134 mission," said Graeber. "We're not working any issues at this time … and over the past ten days have completed some major milestones."
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Joe Delai, STS-134 payload manager gave a brief overview of the payload and will have more details during Thursday's launch countdown briefing. "The payloads are closed for flight, we're not working any issues and ready to support launch," said Delai.
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Shuttle Weather Officer Kathy Winters reported weather is looking good for launch day and for the loading of propellants into Endeavour's external fuel tank although there may be possibility for a storm during the rollback of the rotating service structure, or RSS, scheduled for 7pm Thursday.
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At this time there's only a 20 percent chance of weather hindering a successful launch on Friday, due to possible windy conditions, reported Winters.
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Endeavour's six astronauts departed Ellington Field, Texas, shortly before 10am EDT. They are expected to arrive in their T-38 jets at NASA Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility at approximately 12:50pm. Their arrival will be aired on NASA TV.
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Today at 2pm NASA's official launch countdown clock begins counting backward toward Friday's liftoff.
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Tomorrow's pre-launch news conference will be aired at 11am on NASA TV.
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Countdown to Launch Begins Today at Kennedy
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
07:50am CDT
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Countdown preparations for Space Shuttle Endeavour's launch on Friday at 3:47pm EDT are in process throughout NASA's Kennedy Space Center today.
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Technicians at Launch Pad 39A will close Endeavour's payload bay doors today and workers at Kennedy's Shuttle Landing Facility (SLF) prepare for the STS-134 crew's arrival this afternoon.
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Teams in the Launch Control Center's Firing 4 will officially begin the countdown at 2pm.
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Endeavour's six astronauts are expected to arrive at the SLF at approximately 12:15pm in T-38 training jets. The arrival will be shown live on NASA TV.
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About above image: In the first light of day, Space Shuttle Endeavour stands ready for processing at Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Photo credit: NASA/Jack Pfaller
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STS-134 Image Gallery
STS-134 Image Gallery
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My Take: I guess by now everyone knows that this will be the final Mission/Space Flight ever for Space Shuttle Endeavour.
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Sadly... this will leave us with just one more flight, ever... for the Space Shuttle Program and then... that’s it!
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Manned Space Flight will END, as we know it, after the upcoming STS-135 Mission later this year. And YES... it is all going to end with the HELP of President Obama and the likes of other non visionaries like he.
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My heart truly breaks from the thought that we have let our Space Program go down the tubes and without any kind of outcry from the American People. NONE!
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In a nutshell... sad days are ahead my friends if our future goals for Manned Space Flight do not change at the top and rapidly, SOON!
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For now, I would like everyone reading this to look around them and see all the things we have and know today all because our Space Program was pushing the limits, at all ends of Manned Space Flight.
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This pushing the limit of Manned Space Flight... is ending, for good, this year. GOOD JOB OBAMA!
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With that said...
Safe Flight to the Crew of Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-134...
And God Speed to NASA in getting them all up there and back... safe and sound.
AubreyJ.........
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