A perfect liftoff: NASA celebrates the successful launch of Endeavour

Space · Published 18 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: On the morning of May 16, NASA officials gathered at the Kennedy Space Center to review the flawless ascent of the Space Shuttle Endeavour.

Following the STS-134 mission launch, Mike Moses, chair of the prelaunch Mission Management Team, described the shuttle's liftoff as both "perfect" and "fantastic." The post-launch news conference featured key leaders from NASA and the European Space Agency, including shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach and Michel Tognini, head of the European Astronaut Center.

General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.

Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?

Related

• Space shuttle Endeavour successfully launches for the International Space Station
• The final voyage of a space shuttle icon begins April 29
• Endeavour’s final flight delivered critical tools for the International Space Station
• The final mission of Endeavour: a heavy payload and a commander's return
• The final dress rehearsal for the end of an era
• Could a single instrument rewrite our understanding of the invisible universe?
• The final flight of a shuttle icon to the stars
• How Europe maintains the power of its largest rocket booster
• The year Europe redefined its reach into the cosmos
• The assembly of a shuttle and the legacy of Martian explorers
• How Europe reclaimed its independent path to the stars in a landmark 2024
• The final homecoming for a legendary era of space exploration

More in Space agencies · More in Space · Latest · A–Z · All topics