Photo for the Day - June 01, 2011

* Photo for the Day *

Image above: Space Shuttle Endeavour makes its final landing at the Kennedy Space Center's Shuttle Landing Facility, completing a 16-day mission to the International Space Station. Wednesday, June 01, 2011

Image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

....

.

(In case you missed it... Here’s the landing again!)

STS-134 Lands, Endeavour Completes Last Mission

About above Video: Endeavour returns to Earth at the end of its final mission, STS-134. During the flight, Commander Mark Kelly and crew delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to the International Space Station.

..........................

.

And again I say...

WELCOME HOME!

AubreyJ.........

.

VIDEOS: STS-134 Daily Mission Recap - Flight Days 1 & 2

* STS-134 Daily Mission Recap - Flight Day 2 *

About today’s Video from SPACE: A video recap of flight day 2 of the STS-134 mission of Space Shuttle Endeavour to the International Space Station.

.

................................................

.

* STS-134 Daily Mission Recap - Flight Day 1 *

About today’s Video from SPACE: A video recap of flight day 1 of the STS-134 mission of Space Shuttle Endeavour to the International Space Station.

....

* Watch all Mission Videos, from beginning to end - HERE

.

..................................................................

.

I’ve said it a thousand times

And I’ll say it again...

I LOVE THIS STUFF!

.

Safe flight STS-124

AubreyJ.........

.

Info/Videos from the NASA.gov website

.

Photo for the Day - May 17, 2011

* Photo for the Day *

Endeavour's Final Flight

Space Shuttle Endeavour roars into orbit from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A as the vehicle embarks on its 25th and final spaceflight, the STS-134 mission. Commander Mark Kelly leads the six-person astronaut crew. Liftoff on May 16th occurred on time at 7:56am CDT.
Image credit: NASA

...................................

.

Repost:

As published in the Shreveport Times

* Letter to the Editor *

.

I guess by now everyone knows that this will be the final Mission/Space Flight ever for Space Shuttle Endeavour.

.

Sadly... this will leave us with just one more flight, ever... for the Space Shuttle Program and then... that’s it!

.

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.

.

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!

.

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!

.

For now, I would like everyone reading this to look around them, right now... 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.

.

This pushing the limits of Manned Space Flight... is ending, for good, this year.

GOOD JOB OBAMA!

.

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.

by AubreyJ.........
Aubrey J. Fawcett

.

...

(Here it is on the Shreveport Times website)

Letter: Sad times for end of manned space flight as we know it

.

Watch Launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-134 LIVE

Watch Launch/Mission Live

Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-134

Post Date: Sunday, May 15, 2011

.

Image above: Flags wave briskly at NASA Kennedy's Launch Pad 39A as Endeavour is revealed after the rotating service structure was rolled away for liftoff of the STS-134 mission. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

.....

.

Launch Date: MONDAY - May 15th
Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle Endeavour

- LAST MISSION -
Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center - Launch Pad 39A
Launch Time: 7:56am CDT

.

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...

.

...........................................................

..

Rotating Service Structure Opens For Launch

Sunday, May 15, 2011

11:35am CDT

.

The rotating service structure (RSS) on NASA Kennedy Space Center's Launch Pad 39A is fully open and moved away from space shuttle Endeavour. The RSS began moving at 10:44 a.m. CDT, about 15 minutes ahead of schedule. The retraction was complete at 11:24 p.m.

.

Final preparations continue for Endeavour's 7:56am CDT Monday liftoff. Cockpit switches will be configured this afternoon, while Commander Mark Kelly and his crew will begin their launch sleep schedule at 3 p.m.

.

The shuttle's electricity-producing fuel cells will be activated at 4:46 p.m. and managers will meet at 10 p.m. to give a "Go-No Go" to load the External Fuel Tank with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.

.

Coverage of the fuel loading begins at 10:30 p.m. on NASA TV and at www.nasa.gov/ntv. The tanking process is scheduled to begin at 10:36 p.m.

.............................

.

POST UPDATE:

8:00am CDT

.

We have Liftoff folks and what a picture perfect launch it was!

.

Liftoff of Space Shuttle Endeavour!

Space Shuttle Endeavour and its crew of six astronauts are headed for space, ready to begin their 16-day mission to the International Space Station. The climb to orbit takes about 8 1/2 minutes.

.

Following a relatively smooth countdown, the weather cooperated leading to an on-time liftoff from Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida at 7:56am CDT.

.

NASA TV will air a post-launch news conference at no earlier than 9am so click it out at link below.

.

*****************
Watch
Latest News and Updates
at NASA.gov

And at

NASA’s Launch Blog

.
**************

.

Watch Launch/Mission

LIVE on NASA TV

Click HERE to view

.
********************************

.
STS-134 Image Gallery

> View Gallery <

.

****************************

.
STS-130: Interactive Mission Timeline

Click HERE to view

.

********************************************

.

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.........

.

All Info/Images taken from the NASA.gov website

.

Photo for the Day - May 10, 2011

* Photo for the Day *

- Atlantis Tribute -

This is a printable version [view link below] of Space Shuttle Atlantis' orbiter tribute, or OV-104, which hangs in Firing Room 4 of the Launch Control Center at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

.

In the lower-left corner, it features Atlantis soaring above Earth and threaded through the design are the mission patches for each of Atlantis' flights.

.

Atlantis' accomplishments include seven missions to the Russian space station Mir and several assembly, construction and resupply missions to the International Space Station. Atlantis also flew the last Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission on STS-125.

.

In the tribute, the planet Venus represents the Magellan probe being deployed during STS-30, and Jupiter represents the Galileo probe being deployed during STS-34. The inset photos illustrate various aspects of shuttle processing as well as significant achievements, such as the glass cockpit and the first shuttle docking with Mir during STS-71.

.

The inset photo in the upper-left corner shows a rainbow over Atlantis on Launch Pad 39A and shuttle Endeavour on Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy.

.

Endeavour was the assigned vehicle had Atlantis' STS-125 mission needed rescue, and this was the last time both launch pads were occupied at the same time.

.

The stars in the background represent the many people who have worked with Atlantis and their contributions to the vehicle's success.

.

Five orbiter tributes are on display in the firing room, representing Atlantis, Challenger, Columbia, Endeavour and Discovery.

Graphic design credit: NASA/Amy Lombardo - NASA publication number: SP-2010-08-161-KSC

.

.....................

AubreyJ.........

.

Photo for the Day - May 07, 2011

* Photo for the Day *

- Patiently Waiting -

On a sunny day at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, May 4^th, Space Shuttle Endeavour is protected by the rotating service structure on Launch Pad 39A.

Image credit: NASA/Troy Cryder

...................

.

UPDATE On Next Launch Date:

.

Space Shuttle Endeavour to Launch No Earlier Than May 16th

Originally posted Friday, May 06, 2011

.

NASA managers have retargeted Space Shuttle Endeavour's launch to no earlier than Monday, May 16th. After a meeting on Friday, they also extended the length of Endeavour's STS-134 mission to the International Space Station from 14 to 16 days. If Endeavour launches on May 16th, liftoff would be at 8:56 a.m. EDT.

.

At 3 p.m. on Monday, May 9th, NASA Space Shuttle Program Launch Integration Manager Mike Moses and Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach will hold a news conference at Kennedy Space Center in Florida to discuss the progress of repairs since Endeavour's launch postponement on April 29th. The news conference will air live on NASA Television and online at www.nasa.gov/ntv.

.

Kennedy technicians are continuing work to resolve an issue in a heater circuit associated with Endeavour's hydraulic system that resulted in the launch postponement. Technicians determined the failure was inside an aft load control assembly, which is a switchbox in the shuttle's aft compartment, and possibly its associated electrical wiring.

.

Although the root cause of the failure in the switchbox has not been found, technicians are replacing hardware that could have caused the problem. The faulty box was changed Wednesday, and a test of nine shuttle systems powered by the new box is under way.

.

This weekend, technicians will install and check out new wiring that bypasses the suspect electrical wiring connecting the switchbox to the heaters. They also will run the heaters for up to 30 minutes to verify they are working properly and complete retesting of the other systems powered by the switchbox.

.

The shuttle has three Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) that provide hydraulic power to steer the vehicle during ascent and entry. The hydrazine fuel lines on each APU have two heater circuits that prevent the fuel from freezing while the shuttle is in space. NASA launch commit criteria and flight rules require all APUs and heater circuits to be operational for launch. On Endeavour's first launch attempt, one of two heaters for APU-1's fuel line did not work. Engineers confirmed the circuit in the original switchbox that directed power to the heaters was shorted out.

.

Launch attempts are available through May 26th. May 21st is the only day a launch is not an option because it would lead to a May 23rd docking with the space station. May 23rd is when three of the space station's Expedition 27 crew members undock and return home in their Soyuz spacecraft. Managers reviewed the STS-134 mission timeline and determined the Endeavour crew can accomplish all objectives even with the departure of the three station crew members.

Above Info/Image taken from the NASA.gov website

....................

.

POST UPDATE:

LOOKS LIKE A GO!

* Endeavour's Launch Now Set for May 16^th *

Monday, May 09, 2011

.

NASA managers have set the liftoff of Space Shuttle Endeavour for 7:56am CDT on Monday, May 16th. Space Shuttle Program Launch Integration Manager Mike Moses and Shuttle Launch Director Mike Leinbach announced the date at a news briefing Monday from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

All above Info/Images taken from the NASA.gov website
..............

Keep up with the

Latest News and Updates

On Endeavour’s Launch/Mission
at NASA.gov

................

AubreyJ.........

.

Videos: Webcast by NASA on ‘Endeavour's Final Voyage’

* Endeavour's Final Voyage *

About above video: After nearly two decades of achievements in space, Space Shuttle Endeavour makes one last reach for the stars on its 25th and final mission, STS-134. This webcast examines the mission to come and explores the storied flying career for the youngest of NASA's shuttle orbiters.

This video and more can be found on the NASA.gov website

.

**************************

Keep up with the

Latest News and Updates

On Endeavour’s Launch/Mission
at NASA.gov

.

*******************

.

Be sure to watch the above webcast gang... It really is well worth the 9 ½ minutes of your time that it will take to kick back and watch it all, in full.

.

With that said.... let me say this. I am SOOOOO HAPPY Endeavour didn’t go up last week with all that has gone down over the last few days with the killing of Osama bin Laden.

.

The final mission of this great Ship deserves all our attention... the MSM’s attention too... So yes, I am now real happy it didn’t go up, though I was truly disappointed at the time when it didn’t.

.

Yes, like everyone else, I too am truly happy with the killing of Osama and with the way our President manned up and took the actions he did. Good job Mr. President. Enjoy the success while you can for the American people have short memories on such things. VERY short...

.

AubreyJ.........
.
Special note: NASA space shuttle and International Space Station managers met Monday and determined that Tuesday, May 10th is the earliest Endeavour could be launched on the STS-134 mission. That date is success oriented based on preliminary schedules to replace a faulty Load Control Assembly (LCA) box in the orbiter's aft compartment. More to come...

.

Photo for the Day - April 30, 2011

* Photo for the Day *

Passing Storm

Space Shuttle Endeavour is seen on Launch Pad 39A as a storm passes by prior to rollback of the rotating service structure. Taken April 28, 2011
Image credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls

.....

Next possible launch attempt no earlier than Monday, May 2nd at 1:33pm CDT

.......................

AubreyJ.........

.

Watch Launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-134 LIVE

Watch Launch/Mission Live

Space Shuttle Endeavour STS-134

Friday, April 29, 2011

Post Time 11:26am CDT

.

Image above: The sun breaks through the morning clouds as Shuttle Endeavour awaits liftoff on Launch Pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center.

Photo credit: NASA/KSC

.....

.

Launch Date: TODAY - April 29th
Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle Endeavour

- LAST MISSION -
Launch Site: Kennedy Space Center - Launch Pad 39A
Launch Time: 2:47pm CDT

.

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...

.

...........................................................

.

Endeavour's Launch on Target for 2:47pm CDT

Friday, April 29, 2011

09:32am CDT

.

Space Shuttle Endeavour's external tank is fully loaded with more than 500,000 gallons of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen in preparation for today's 2:47pm CDT launch. Tanking operations began at 5:22am and concluded at 8:24am.

.

Forecasters continue to predict a 70 percent chance of favorable weather for today's launch. The only concerns are low cloud ceilings and high crosswinds at the Shuttle Landing Facility at time of liftoff.

.

Again... Endeavour is still on target for a 2:47pm CDT Launch.

.

.....................................................

.

Post UPDATE:

12:01pm CDT

.

Sorry Gang...

* Launch Postponed *

.

Engineers and Managers to Assess APU Issue

12:14pm CDT

.

Shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach stated that Endeavour's launch will be no earlier than Monday at 1:33pm CDT. Engineers need that time to troubleshoot an issue that resulted in today’s launch scrub.

.

During today’s countdown, engineers detected a failure in one of two heater circuits associated with Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) 1. Heaters are required to keep the APUs’ hydrazine from freezing on orbit. Attempts to activate the heater were not successful and engineers now believe the problem might be associated with a Load Control Assembly, which is a switchbox, located in the aft end of Endeavour, or an electrical short in the wires leading into or out of the switchbox.

.

Endeavour’s external tank will be drained, technicians will enter Endeavour’s aft compartment overnight and by tomorrow afternoon, will put in a platform to gain access to the avionics bay where the Load Control Assembly is located. Once there, they will assess whether they need to remove and replace the switchbox, or fix an electrical wiring short.

.

Because of this, Leinbach said there will be a minimum 72-hour scrub turnaround.

.

Engineers and managers will meet this afternoon to further refine their troubleshooting plan. NASA has scheduled a news conference at 4 p.m. to discuss today’s scrub and the plan.

.
****************************
.Keep up with the

Latest News and Updates
at NASA.gov

And at

NASA’s Launch Blog

.
*******************

.

Watch Launch/Mission

LIVE on NASA TV

Click HERE

Or on above image to view

.
******************

.
STS-134 Image Gallery

* View Gallery *.

**********************************

.
STS-130: Interactive Mission Timeline

Click HERE or on above image to view

.

***************************

.

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.........

.