![]() ![]() Visit for complete coverage of or follow us and on. You can follow Staff Writer Denise Chow on Twitter. Atlantis will be showcased at the visitor center at Kennedy Space Center and Enterprise will be moved to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York City. The months-long decommissioning process after the shuttle lands will make sure Endeavour is properly decontaminated and safe for the exhibit.ĭiscovery will find a home at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. ![]() This vehicle is a wonderful machine and it's an honor and a privilege for each one of us to be a part of her final flight."Įndeavour has been promised to the California Science Center in Los Angeles. ![]() She's performed absolutely magnificently. I fell in love with this vehicle the first time I got to fly, three years ago on STS-123. "It's very bittersweet," pilot Johnson said in an in-flight interview. Now that Endeavour is on the ground again, the shuttle will begin the next Earth-bound phase of its career: being prepared for public display at a museum.įour institutions across the country were selected by NASA chief Charles Bolden to display Discovery, Atlantis, Endeavour and the test vehicle Enterprise, following the retirement of the agency's shuttle program. The fourth and final outing marked the final spacewalk ever taken by members of a shuttle crew. The crew performed four spacewalks to make upgrades to the station. "We're looking forward to hearing what those discoveries are." "We got the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer installed, which is a remarkable thing for physics and for science," Kelly said before Endeavour undocked from the space station. The particle physics detector will measure high-energy cosmic rays, and search for signs of antimatter and mysterious dark matter in the universe. Johnson and mission specialists Greg Chamitoff, Mike Fincke, Andrew Feustel and Roberto Vittori delivered and installed the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer on the exterior of the station's starboard truss. "As we begin the transition from the shuttle program to the commercial transportation of our crews and cargo, our ability to tackle big challenges remains steadfast and will ensure that NASA reaches even more destinations farther in the solar system." "We are very proud of Endeavour's legacy, and this penultimate flight of the space shuttle program once again demonstrated the amazing skill and dedication of our astronauts and the entire workforce," Bolden said in a statement after the shuttle landed. The orbiter spent 11 days, 17 hours and 41 minutes parked at the orbiting outpost. It was NASA's second-to-last shuttle mission with only the final voyage of Atlantis remaining before NASA shuts down its space shuttle program after 30 years of service.Įndeavour launched on its 25th and final mission on May 16 to deliver a $2 billion astrophysics experiment, called the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer, and extra supplies to the International Space Station. The landing marked the end of NASA's 134th shuttle mission since flights began in 1981. It's sad to see her land for the last time, but she really has a great legacy." "Thank you, Houston," replied Endeavour commander Mark Kelly, adding that the shuttle is "really an incredible ship." "On behalf of my entire crew, I want to thank every person who's worked to get this mission going and every person who's worked on Endeavour. "Welcome home, Endeavour," Mission Control radioed the shuttle crew after landing. After travelling more than 122 million miles over the course of 25 missions, Endeavour's wheels rolled to a stop for the final time on Runway 15 at the Florida spaceport's Shuttle Landing Facility. EDT (0634 GMT), wrapping up a demanding 16-day mission to the International Space Station. Endeavour, the youngest shuttle in NASA's orbiter fleet, touched down here at Kennedy Space Center at 2:34 a.m. ![]()
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