| Endeavour | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Endeavour in orbit in 2008, during STS-123 | |
| Type | Spaceplane |
| Class | Space Shuttle orbiter |
| Eponym | HMS Endeavour |
| Serial no. | OV-105 |
| Owner | NASA |
| Manufacturer | Rockwell International |
| Specifications | |
| Dry mass | 78,000 kilograms (172,000 lb) |
| Rocket | Space Shuttle |
| History | |
| First flight |
|
| Last flight |
|
| Flights | 25 |
| Flight time | 7,179 hours |
| Travelled | 197,761,262 kilometres (122,883,151 mi) around Earth |
| Orbits | 4,671 around Earth |
| Fate | Retired |
| Location | |
| Space Shuttle orbiters | |
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.
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.
- ^ "Space Shuttle Overview: Endeavour (OV-105)". NASA. Archived from the original on February 22, 2020. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
- ^ "STS-49". NASA KSC. Archived from the original on February 17, 2013. Retrieved June 30, 2011.
- ^ "Endeavour completes final mission; NASA has one left". CNN. June 1, 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011.
- ^ "Consolidated Launch Manifest". NASA. Archived from the original on March 7, 2009. Retrieved June 30, 2011.