Space Shuttle Endeavour

(Redirected from Shuttle Endeavour)

Space Shuttle Endeavour (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-105) is a retired orbiter from NASA's Space Shuttle program and the fifth and final operational Shuttle built. It embarked on its first mission, STS-49, in May 1992 and its 25th and final mission, STS-134, in May 2011.[1][2][3] STS-134 was expected to be the final mission of the Space Shuttle program,[4] but with the authorization of STS-135 by the United States Congress, Atlantis became the last shuttle to fly.

Endeavour
Top view of a spaceplane above the Earth.
Endeavour in orbit in 2008, during STS-123
TypeSpaceplane
ClassSpace Shuttle orbiter
EponymHMS Endeavour
Serial no.OV-105
OwnerNASA
ManufacturerRockwell International
Specifications
Dry mass78,000 kilograms (172,000 lb)
RocketSpace Shuttle
History
First flight
Last flight
Flights25
Flight time7,179 hours
Travelled197,761,262 kilometres (122,883,151 mi) around Earth
Orbits4,671 around Earth
FateRetired
Location
Space Shuttle orbiters

The United States Congress approved the construction of Endeavour in 1987 to replace the Space Shuttle Challenger, which was destroyed in 1986.

NASA chose, on cost grounds, to build much of Endeavour from spare parts rather than refitting the Space Shuttle Enterprise, and used structural spares built during the construction of Discovery and Atlantis in its assembly.

The space shuttle will soon be on display in the upcoming Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center at the California Science Center.

History

edit
 
Endeavour rollout ceremony in April 1991
 
Endeavour as photographed from the International Space Station as it approached the station during STS-118
 
Endeavour appears to straddle the stratosphere and mesosphere in this 2010 photo taken from the International Space Station

Following the loss of Challenger in 1986, NASA was authorized to begin the procurement process for a replacement orbiter. A major refit of the prototype orbiter Enterprise was looked at and rejected on cost grounds, with instead the cache of structural spares that were produced as part of the construction of Discovery and Atlantis earmarked for assembly into the new orbiter. Assembly was completed in July 1990, and the new orbiter was rolled out in April 1991. As part of the process, NASA ran a national competition for schools to name the new orbiter—the criteria included a requirement that it be named after an exploratory or research vessel, with a name "easily understood in the context of space"; entries included an essay about the name, the story behind it and why it was appropriate for a NASA shuttle, and the project that supported the name. Amongst the entries, Endeavour was suggested by one-third of the participating schools, with President George H.W. Bush eventually selecting it on the advice of the NASA Administrator, Richard Truly. The national winners were Senatobia Middle School in Senatobia, Mississippi, in the elementary division and Tallulah Falls School in Tallulah Falls, Georgia, in the upper school division. They were honored at several ceremonies in Washington, D.C., including a White House ceremony where President Bush presented awards to each school.[5] Endeavour was delivered by Rockwell International Space Transportation Systems Division in May 1991 and first launched a year later, in May 1992, on STS-49.

Endeavour cost $1.7 billion to build.[6] The orbiter is named after the British HMS Endeavour, the ship which took Captain James Cook on his first voyage of discovery (1768–1771).[7] This is why the name is spelled in the British English manner, rather than the American English ("Endeavor"). This has caused confusion, including when NASA itself misspelled a sign on the launch pad in 2007.[8] The Space Shuttle carried a piece of the original wood from Cook's ship inside the cockpit.[9] The name also honored Endeavour, the command module of Apollo 15, which was also named for Cook's ship.

On May 30, 2020, Dragon 2 capsule C206 was named Endeavour during the Crew Dragon Demo-2 mission by astronauts Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken in honor of the shuttle, on which both astronauts took their first flights (STS-127 and STS-123 respectively).

Service

edit

On its first mission, it captured and redeployed the stranded Intelsat VI communications satellite. The first African-American woman astronaut, Mae Jemison, was launched into space on the mission STS-47 on September 12, 1992.

Endeavour flew the first servicing mission STS-61 for the Hubble Space Telescope in 1993. In 1997 it was withdrawn from service for eight months for a retrofit, including installation of a new airlock. In December 1998, it delivered the Unity Module to the International Space Station.

Endeavour's last Orbiter Major Modification period began in December 2003 and ended on October 6, 2005. During this time, Endeavour received major hardware upgrades, including a new, multi-functional, electronic display system, often referred to as a glass cockpit, and an advanced GPS receiver, along with safety upgrades recommended by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board (CAIB) for the shuttle's return to flight following the loss of Columbia during reentry on February 1, 2003.

The STS-118 mission, Endeavour's first since the refit, included astronaut Barbara Morgan, formerly assigned to the Teacher in Space project, and later a member of the Astronaut Corps from 1998 to 2008, as part of the crew. Morgan was the backup for Christa McAuliffe who was on the ill-fated mission STS-51-L in 1986.

Early milestones

edit
Date Milestone[10]
1982 February 15 Start structural assembly of crew module (built as structural spare alongside Discovery and Atlantis)[11]
1987 July 31 Contract award to Rockwell International
1987 August 1 Start of Final Assembly
1987 September 28 Start structural assembly of aft fuselage
1990 July 6 Completed Final Assembly
1991 April 25 Rollout from Plant 42, Palmdale, California
1991 May 7 Delivery to Kennedy Space Center
1992 April 6 Flight Readiness Firing (FRF)
1992 May 7 First flight (STS-49)

Upgrades and features

edit
 
Endeavour mounted on a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft
 
Endeavour approaches LC-39A before STS-130
 
Endeavour in flight en route back to the Kennedy Space Center atop a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft in 2008
 
Endeavour lands after STS-127 at the Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility

As it was constructed later than its elder sisters, Endeavour was built with new hardware designed to improve and expand orbiter capabilities. Most of this equipment was later incorporated into the other three orbiters during out-of-service major inspection and modification programs. Endeavour's upgrades include:

  • A 40-foot (12 m) diameter drag chute that reduced the orbiter's landing roll-out distance (the runway length used for deceleration) from 3,000 feet (910 m) to 2,000 feet (610 m).
  • The plumbing and electrical connections needed for Extended Duration Orbiter (EDO) modifications to allow up to a 28-day mission (although a 28-day mission was never attempted; the record is 17 days, which was set by Columbia).
  • Updated avionics systems that included advanced general purpose computers, improved inertial measurement units and tactical air navigation systems, enhanced master events controllers and multiplexer-demultiplexers, a solid-state star tracker and improved nose wheel steering mechanisms.
  • An improved version of the Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) that provided power to operate the Shuttle's hydraulic systems.

Modifications resulting from a 2005–2006 refit of Endeavour included:

  • The Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System (SSPTS), which converted 8 kilowatts of DC power from the ISS main voltage of 120VDC to the orbiter bus voltage of 28VDC. This upgrade allowed Endeavour to remain on-orbit while docked at ISS for an additional 3- to 4-day duration. The corresponding power equipment was added to the ISS during the STS-116 station assembly mission, and Endeavour flew with SSPTS capability during STS-118.[12][13][14]

Final flights

edit
 
Platforms around Endeavour in the Orbiter Processing Facility-2
 
Endeavour (left) docked to the International Space Station on May 23, 2011, during its final mission

Endeavour flew its final mission, STS-134, to the International Space Station (ISS) in May 2011. After the conclusion of STS-134, Endeavour was formally decommissioned.[15]

STS-134 was intended to launch in late 2010, but on July 1 NASA released a statement saying the Endeavour mission was rescheduled for February 27, 2011.[16]

"The target dates were adjusted because critical payload hardware for STS-133 will not be ready in time to support the previously planned 16 September launch," NASA said in a statement. With the Discovery launch moving to November, Endeavour mission "cannot fly as planned, so the next available launch window is in February 2011," NASA said, adding that the launch dates were subject to change.[17]

The launch was further postponed until April to avoid a scheduling conflict with a Russian supply vehicle heading for the International Space Station.[18] STS-134 did not launch until May 16 at 08:56 EDT.[19]

Endeavour landed at the Kennedy Space Center at 06:34 UTC on June 1, 2011, completing its final mission.[20] It was the 25th night landing of a shuttle.[21][22] Over its flight career, Endeavour flew 122,883,151 miles (197,761,262 km) and spent 299 days in space.[23] During Endeavour's last mission, the Russian spacecraft Soyuz TMA-20 departed from the ISS and paused at a distance of 200 metres (660 ft). Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli took a series of photographs and videos of the ISS with Endeavour docked.[24] This was the second time a shuttle was photographed docked and the first time since 1996. Commander Mark Kelly was the last astronaut off Endeavour after the landing, and the crew stayed on the landing strip to sign autographs and pose for pictures.[25]

STS-134 was the penultimate Space Shuttle mission; STS-135 was added to the schedule in January 2011, and in July Atlantis flew for the final time.[26]

Flights

edit

‡ Longest shuttle mission for Endeavour

Tribute and mission insignias

edit
NASA Orbiter Tribute for Space Shuttle Endeavour
Mission insignia for Endeavour flights

Flow Directors

edit

The Flow Director was responsible for the overall preparation of the Shuttle for launch and processing it after landing, and remained permanently assigned to head the spacecraft's ground crew while the astronaut flight crews changed for every mission. Each Shuttle's Flow Director was supported by a Vehicle Manager for the same spacecraft. Space Shuttle Endeavour's Flow Directors were:

Decommissioning

edit

After more than twenty organizations submitted proposals for the display of an orbiter,[37][38] on April 12, 2011, NASA announced that the Space Shuttle Endeavour would go to the California Science Center in Los Angeles.[39] The Space Shuttle was mounted on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and departed from the Kennedy Space Center on September 19, 2012, heading to the Los Angeles International Airport, with some refueling stops in Ellington Field and Edwards Air Force Base. After low level flyovers above NASA and civic landmarks across the country and in California, it was delivered to LAX on September 21.[40] It was then hoisted off the aircraft and placed inside a United Airlines hangar to prepare for its transportation through the streets of Los Angeles.[41]

 
Endeavour moving through Los Angeles

On October 11 at 11:30pm, Endeavour left the hangar on four self-propelled robotic transporters and the orbiter was slowly left the airport and was carefully transported through the streets of Los Angeles.[42][43][44] The Space Shuttle's 12-mile (19 km) journey was meticulously measured and each move was carefully choreographed.[45]

In multiple locations, there were only inches of clearance for the shuttle's wide wings between telephone poles, apartment buildings and other structures. Many street light standards and traffic signals were temporarily removed as the shuttle passed through. It was necessary to remove over 400 street trees as well, some of which were fairly old, leading to concern.[46] However, the removed trees were replaced two-for-one by the Science Center, using part of the $200 million funding for the move.[45]

The power had to be turned off and power carrying poles had to be removed temporarily as the orbiter crept along the streets. News crews lined the streets along the path with visible news personalities in the news trucks. Police escorts and other security personnel, among them including the LAPD, LASD, CHP, and NASA officials, controlled the large crowds gathered, with support from the LAFD and LACoFD to treat heat exhaustion victims as Endeavour made its way through the city.[47] Endeavour was sometimes parked for a few hours at certain places, such as Randy's Donuts, and The Forum where it was available for viewing.[48][49]

 
The Randy's Donuts sign alongside Space Shuttle Endeavour as it is ferried through the streets of Los Angeles on Friday, October 12, 2012

Endeavour's biggest part of the journey was crossing the Manchester Boulevard Bridge over Interstate 405. However, due to weight restrictions of the bridge, the shuttle was moved from the robotic transporters to a lighter non-powered dolly and was towed across the bridge by an unmodified Toyota Tundra.[50] Once it had completely crossed the bridge, the shuttle was then returned to the robotic transporters to continue its course. Toyota used the footage of Endeavour crossing the bridge in a commercial for the 2013 Super Bowl,[51] and the Tundra used to pull the shuttle was donated to the Science Center, where it became part of an exhibit on leverage.[52]

Having taken longer than expected, Endeavour reached the Science Center on October 14 at 7:30pm.[53] Prior to its arrival, a building was constructed on the side of the museum to temporary house the Space Shuttle.[54] The Space Shuttle's entire journey through the streets of Los Angeles was often dubbed as Mission 26: The Big Endeavour, a nod to its 25 space missions during its career.[55]

California Science Center

edit
 
Endeavour in the temporary Samuel Oschin Pavilion (February 2023)

On October 30, 2012, the Space Shuttle Endeavour was opened to the public.[49] The shuttle was display inside the temporary Samuel Oschin Pavilion,[54] where guests offered to not only walk around Endeavour, but also under it, as the vehicle was displayed in the horizontal atop four friction-pendulum seismic isolators to protect it from earthquakes.[49] The shuttle remained inside the temporary pavilion until December 31, 2023.[56] A companion exhibit inside the Science Center features images and artifacts that related the Space Shuttle program to California, where the orbiters were originally constructed.[57]

After its decommissioning, Endeavour's Canadarm (formally the 'Shuttle Remote Manipulator System') was removed in order to be sent to the Canadian Space Agency's John H. Chapman Space Centre in Longueuil, Quebec, a suburb of Montreal, where it was to be placed on display.[58] In a Canadian poll on which science or aerospace museum should be selected to display the Canadarm, originally built by SPAR Aerospace, the Canadian Space Agency's headquarters placed third to last with only 35 out of 638 votes.[59][60] Endeavour's Canadarm has since gone on permanent display at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa.[61][62][63] In August 2015, NASA engineers removed a few of the tanks from Endeavour for reuse as storage containers for potable water on the International Space Station.[64]

On May 28, 2015, NASA donated the ET-94 external tank, the last mission-ready one in existence as all others were destroyed during launch. On April 12, 2016, the tank was transported by barge from the Michoud Assembly Facility in New Orleans, Louisiana, across the Panama Canal, and was safely docked in Marina del Rey on May 15.[65] The tank was delivered to the Science Center on May 21. It was displayed outside the Samuel Oschin Pavilion until 2023.[66][67][68] On March 28, 2017, both Northrop Grumman and NASA donated a pair of flight-proven solid rocket boosters for Endeavour exhibit. [69] The rocket parts were delivered on September 11, 2020, and was temporarily stored in the Mojave Air and Space Port in Mojave, California until construction begins.[70][71]

Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center

edit
 
Final preparations for joining Endeavour to its fuel tank and boosters, January 29, 2024

The Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center, is a new building that is under construction, will serve as Endeavour's new permanent home. The Space Shuttle will be in a 20-story-tall display mounted on with the ET-94 tank, and solid rocket boosters, as it looks like its were about to make one more flight. Once finished, it will be the only Space Shuttle mounted vertically in launch position.

Originally slated to open in 2015, construction on the new building started on June 1, 2022.[72][73] Meanwhile, the ET-94 tank underwent some restoration after being used to analyze the foam on its sister tank, ET-93, which was a factor during the STS-107 mission, which resulted in the Columbia disaster.[74]

On July 20, 2023, the assembly of the stack began with the aft skirts (bottom segments of the rocket boosters) being precisely positioned on a concrete slab supported by six base isolators that will protect Endeavour from earthquakes.[75] The motors for the rocket boosters were installed on October 11, which was in storage at the Mojave Air and Space Port.[76] The rocket boosters was fully assembled when the tops were added on December 5.[77]

On January 3, 2024, Endeavour was protected in a shrink wrap, likely to stay on until construction is complete.[78] The ET-94 tank was then moved into its position in January 16 and was mounted to the rocket boosters.[79][80] On January 30, the Space Shuttle was then moved into its position, thus completing the stack. Once all components are mounted into place, construction on the building continues, as it will be built a complex diagrid structure around it. Construction work on the building is scheduled to be completed in mid-2025. It will take several more years to install the artifacts and exhibits inside the building.[81] An official grand opening is not yet announced.

Legacy

edit
 
Crew Dragon C206 Endeavour was named by Doug Hurley and Bob Behnken as a tribute to the Space Shuttle Endeavour.

Following their May 30, 2020, launch on board the SpaceX Crew Dragon Demo-2 vehicle, the crew announced in orbit that they had named their spacecraft Endeavour. Astronauts Bob Behnken and Doug Hurley said the name has a dual meaning: first, after the "incredible endeavor" put forth by SpaceX and NASA after the retirement of the Space Shuttle fleet in 2011; and second, because both Hurley and Behnken each flew their first flight aboard the shuttle Endeavour (Behnken on STS-123, Hurley on STS-127) and wanted to name this new spacecraft after the one that took each of them into space.[82] The shuttle appeared in the 2022 films Moonfall and Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe.

Replica

edit

A replica of a section of Endeavour is on exhibit outside the Discovery Cube Orange County, a science museum in Santa Ana, California.[83]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Space Shuttle Overview: Endeavour (OV-105)". NASA. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  2. ^ "STS-49". NASA KSC. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  3. ^ "Endeavour completes final mission; NASA has one left". CNN. June 1, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
  4. ^ "Consolidated Launch Manifest". NASA. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  5. ^ "The Naming Of The Space Shuttle Endeavour". NASA. Archived from the original on August 23, 2011. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  6. ^ "Space Shuttle Era Facts" (PDF). NASA. July 15, 2011. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  7. ^ John F. Kennedy Space Center – Space Shuttle Endeavour Archived May 21, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Pao.ksc.nasa.gov. Retrieved on May 20, 2012.
  8. ^ "Shuttle's Name Misspelled On NASA Launch Pad Sign". WKMG-TV. Archived from the original on July 16, 2007.
  9. ^ 125,000 see Endeavour land: Satellite rescue highlights maiden trip. Daily Breeze. Retrieved on July 21, 2015.
  10. ^ "Shuttle Orbiter Endeavour (OV-105)". NASA/KSC. Archived from the original on May 1, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  11. ^ Marconi, Elaine. "NASA – Space Shuttle Overview: Endeavour (OV-105)". www.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved March 12, 2008.
  12. ^ "Vehicle Upgrades: Station-Shuttle Power Transfer System (SSPTS)". Boeing: Integrated Defense Systems. Archived from the original on March 18, 2007.
  13. ^ "NASA Presolicitation Notice: Station-Shuttle Power Transfer System (SSPTS)". NASA. October 26, 2003. Archived from the original on July 3, 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
  14. ^ "NASA's Space Shuttle Processing Status Report: S05-034". NASA. December 2, 2005. Archived from the original on December 8, 2007. Retrieved September 14, 2006.
  15. ^ "OV-105 "Endeavour"". California Science Center. June 30, 2014. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
  16. ^ "NASA Updates Shuttle Target Launch Dates For Final Two Flights". NASA. July 1, 2010. Archived from the original on June 12, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  17. ^ "NASA reschedules two final space shuttle launches". Space Travel. July 1, 2010. Retrieved November 20, 2016.
  18. ^ "Unmanned Russian cargo ship heads for space station". CNN. April 4, 2011. Archived from the original on January 14, 2012.
  19. ^ "STS-134". NASA. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  20. ^ "Endeavour completes final mission; one flight left for NASA". CNN. June 1, 2011. Retrieved June 3, 2011.
  21. ^ Dunn, Marcia (May 31, 2011). "Endeavour's last landing sparks pride and sadness". NBC News. Archived from the original on December 9, 2013. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  22. ^ Harwood, William (June 1, 2011). "Endeavour ends final mission with smooth landing; The Space Shot". CNET News. Archived from the original on March 26, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2012.
  23. ^ "Space Shuttle Era Facts" (PDF), NASA, July 5, 2011, archived from the original (PDF) on July 14, 2019, retrieved August 2, 2016
  24. ^ "Soyuz TMA-20 captures historic photography prior to perfect landing". NASASpaceFlight. May 23, 2011. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  25. ^ "Next-to-last space shuttle flight lands on Earth". Deseret News. June 1, 2011. Retrieved February 9, 2023.
  26. ^ "STS-135: The Final Voyage". NASA. July 27, 2011. Archived from the original on July 27, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
  27. ^ "Space Shuttle Mission STS-122". Nasa.gov. May 24, 2009. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  28. ^ "NASA RSS archive". NASA. November 30, 2008. Archived from the original on October 16, 2009. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
  29. ^ Bergin, Chris (November 30, 2008). "Endeavour lands at Edwards to conclude STS-126". NASASpaceflight.com. Retrieved November 30, 2008.
  30. ^ "NASA's Shuttle and Rocket Launch Schedule". Nasa.gov. Retrieved July 17, 2009.
  31. ^ "STS-127 MCC Status Report No. 32". NASA. July 31, 2009. Archived from the original on August 1, 2009. Retrieved August 1, 2009.
  32. ^ "ISS Assembly missions". NASA. Archived from the original on October 16, 2008. Retrieved August 16, 2012.
  33. ^ "KSC Names Two Space Shuttle Flow Directors". Archived from the original on January 1, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  34. ^ KSC, Kay Grinter. "NASA – Biography of Tassos Abadiotakis". www.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  35. ^ Regan, Rebecca. "NASA – Biography of Ken Tenbusch". www.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on August 5, 2023. Retrieved August 5, 2023.
  36. ^ "NASA – Dana M. Hutcherson, Launch Vehicle Systems Office Deputy Manager, NASA's Commercial Crew Program". www.nasa.gov. Archived from the original on September 25, 2020. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  37. ^ Simon, Richard (August 14, 2010). "With shuttles becoming museum pieces, cities vie to land one". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  38. ^ "Discovery's Final Home 'Up In The Air'". United Press International. November 1, 2010. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  39. ^ Stanglin, Douglas (April 12, 2011). "NYC, L.A., Kennedy Space Center, Smithsonian to get the 4 retired space shuttles". USA Today. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  40. ^ Simon, Richard (April 12, 2012). "Delivering the space shuttles is tougher than you think". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 19, 2012.
  41. ^ Pearlman, Robert Z. (September 21, 2012). "Space Shuttle Endeavour Lands in L.A. for Display at California Science Center". Space.com. Retrieved March 4, 2024.
  42. ^ Pearlman, Robert Z. (October 12, 2012). "Space Shuttle Endeavour Embarks on L.A. Road Trip". Space.com. Retrieved March 29, 2024.
  43. ^ "Space shuttle Endeavour route, street closures & viewing areas". ABC7 News. Archived from the original on October 14, 2012. Retrieved October 12, 2012.
  44. ^ Mather, Kate; Flores, Adolfo; Geber, Marisa; Khouri, Andrew; Weiss, Ken (October 13, 2012). "Space shuttle Endeavour rolls on toward its new home". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  45. ^ a b Anton, Mike (September 16, 2012). "Shuttle Endeavour's final journey is carefully choreographed". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 19, 2017.
  46. ^ Singh, Timon (September 9, 2012). "400 Trees Cut Down to Make Way For Space Shuttle Endeavour's Los Angeles Arrival". Inhabitat – Sustainable Design Innovation, Eco Architecture, Green Building.
  47. ^ CBS News (October 14, 2012). "Space shuttle Endeavour's slow commute through Los Angeles". CBS News Los Angeles. Archived from the original on August 13, 2019. Retrieved February 14, 2019.
  48. ^ "Hole punched in doughnut shop's hopes for shuttle celebration". Los Angeles Times. October 12, 2012. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  49. ^ a b c "Space Shuttle Endeavour homepage". California Science Center. 2012. Retrieved October 13, 2012.
  50. ^ Morton, Neal (October 13, 2012). "Shuttle Endeavour hitches a ride with S.A. truck". San Antonio Express-News. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  51. ^ Harwood, Allyson (October 15, 2012). "How a 2012 Toyota Tundra Towed the Space Shuttle Endeavour". Motor Trend's Truck Trend. Retrieved July 17, 2013.
  52. ^ Toyota. "California Science Center Unveils Giant Lever Exhibit Featuring the Toyota Tundra Used During Space Shuttle Endeavour Transport". www.prnewswire.com. Retrieved April 15, 2024.
  53. ^ "Endeavour Arrives at California Science Center". NBC News Los Angeles. October 14, 2012. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  54. ^ a b Lin II, Rong-Gong (October 9, 2014). "Space shuttle Endeavour inches closer to completion of final exhibit". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 2, 2019.
  55. ^ Malik, Tariq (October 17, 2012). "Shuttle Endeavour's L.A. Journey Stars in Stunning Time-Lapse Movie". Space.com. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  56. ^ Pearlman, Robert Z. (December 31, 2023). "End of year, end of exhibit: Space shuttle Endeavour goes off view for a few years". Space.com. Retrieved January 1, 2024.
  57. ^ "Welcome to the California Science Center". California Science Center.
  58. ^ "The Canadarm Is Returning Home" (Press release). Montreal: Canadian Space Agency. July 16, 2012. Archived from the original on March 26, 2014. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  59. ^ "Canadian Space Agency Requests Proposals To Display Canadarm At St. Hubert Headquarters". SpaceRefCanada. Archived from the original on January 15, 2013. Retrieved October 19, 2012.
  60. ^ "Endeavour's Canadarm coming home". CBC. April 12, 2011. Retrieved October 14, 2012.
  61. ^ Johnson, Andy (May 2, 2013). "Unveiling exhibit, Hadfield sends first Canadarm 'last command' from space". CTV News. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
  62. ^ Howell, Elizabeth (May 2, 2013). "Space Shuttle's Robotic Arm Goes on Display at Canadian Museum". Space.com. Retrieved May 2, 2013.
  63. ^ "Minister Moore Unveils Exhibit for Canada's National Space Icon: the Canadarm". Canadian Space Agency. May 2, 2013. Archived from the original on May 6, 2013. Retrieved July 1, 2013.
  64. ^ "Tanks from retired shuttle Endeavour will be used for water storage on space station". U.S. News & World Report. August 19, 2015. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
  65. ^ "SPACE SHUTTLE EXTERNAL TANK ET-94 – Emmert International". www.emmertintl.com. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  66. ^ "NASA gives California Science Center museum last remaining space shuttle fuel tank". LA Times. May 28, 2015. Retrieved March 6, 2016.
  67. ^ "The California Science Center's External Tank". California Science Center. Retrieved May 29, 2015.
  68. ^ Pearlman, Robert Z. (May 22, 2016). "Space Shuttle External Tank Completes Road Trip to CA Science Center". Space.com. Retrieved March 31, 2024.
  69. ^ Ray, Justin (March 28, 2017). "Twin solid rockets, reused veterans of spaceflight, set for Endeavour display – Spaceflight Now". Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  70. ^ "Shuttle-used rockets roll into California to stand up Endeavour exhibit | collectSPACE". collectSPACE.com. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  71. ^ Evans, Ben (September 20, 2020). "Northrop Grumman Donates Flight-Proven SRBs to Endeavour Exhibit at CSC - AmericaSpace". AmericaSpace. Retrieved April 16, 2024.
  72. ^ Lin II, Rong-Gong; Campa, Andrew J. (June 1, 2022). "Space shuttle Endeavour is getting its own grand museum in L.A., displayed in launch position". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 4, 2022.
  73. ^ Wisdom, McKenzie (June 9, 2022). "Groundbreaking at California Science Center's Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center". MATT Construction. Retrieved October 11, 2023.
  74. ^ Branson-Potts, Hailey (April 10, 2016). "Last flight-qualified space shuttle fuel tank in existence begins its journey to L.A." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved April 20, 2019.
  75. ^ "California Science Center starts complex process to display Space Shuttle Endeavour vertically". KTLA. Associated Press. July 20, 2023. Retrieved July 21, 2023.
  76. ^ Staff, KCAL News (October 11, 2023). "Massive rocket motors arrive at California Science Center - CBS Los Angeles". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved October 9, 2024.
  77. ^ "Endeavour's Final Move". California Science Center.
  78. ^ Pearlman, Robert (January 3, 2024). "Up next for Endeavour LA exhibit: Tank lift and shuttle shrink wrap". Yahoo News. Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  79. ^ Lin II, Rong-Gong (January 2, 2024). "Space shuttle Endeavour's giant orange external tank begins final journey". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 3, 2024.
  80. ^ Campa, Andrew J.; Lin II, Rong-Gong (January 12, 2024). "Mission accomplished: Space shuttle Endeavour's giant orange fuel tank moved into viewing spot in L.A." Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 16, 2024.
  81. ^ "The Endeavour space shuttle's new home is inching closer to completion". LAist. October 10, 2024. Retrieved October 11, 2024.
  82. ^ Boyle, Alan. "Crew Dragon's astronauts give their SpaceX spaceship a storied name: Endeavour". GeekWire. Retrieved May 30, 2020.
  83. ^ Evans, Larry (June 2, 2005). "Have Shuttle, Will Travel: Endeavour Takes Shape at Discovery Science Center". Space.com. Retrieved November 3, 2022.
edit