The final flight of Endeavour carried a massive search for dark matter

Space · Published 11 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: On May 16, 2011, the Space Shuttle Endeavour launched its 25th and final mission. Beyond delivering critical supplies to the International Space Station, the crew carried a 6.9-tonne payload designed to hunt for the universe's most mysterious substance: dark matter.

The STS-134 mission was a complex 15-day operation focused on station assembly and maintenance. Among the most significant components delivered was the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS-02), a 6.9-tonne fundamental physics payload. This ambitious instrument was designed to search for dark matter by analyzing cosmic particles, and it began sending data back to researchers on Earth shortly after installation. This sophisticated device is considered one of the most ambitious scientific instruments ever sent to the station. It functions by studying various cosmic particles to uncover fundamental physics secrets.

The mission was notable for its crew and its historical significance for the Space Shuttle program. The crew included Commander Mark Kelly and five specialists: Michael Fincke, Gregory H. Johnson, Greg Chamitoff, Andrew Feustel, and Roberto Vittori. Vittori holds the distinction of being the last international astronaut to fly aboard a shuttle. During the mission, the crew performed four spacewalks and conducted a test of the Sensor Test for Orion Relative Navigation Risk Mitigation (STORRM) automated docking system. The crew successfully completed the mission's objectives through several extravehicular activities. Additionally, they performed a flyaround of the station during the final stages of the flight.

Beyond carrying the AMS-02, Endeavour transported vital supplies to the International Space Station, such as a high-pressure gas tank, two antennas for communication, and extra components for the Dextre robot. The mission concluded on June 1, 2011, when Endeavour touched down at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, marking the end of the shuttle's illustrious career, which included 299 days in space and over 4,671 orbits of Earth. The shuttle's journey covered a total distance of over 122 million miles. This final landing occurred on Runway 15 after the crew received clearance for the deorbit burn.

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