The final flight of a shuttle that traveled 122 million miles
In short: Before the final voyage of the space shuttle Endeavour, Commander Mark Kelly and his crew underwent rigorous simulator training. This mission wasn't just another trip to the International Space Station; it was the closing chapter of a legendary orbital career, marking the end of an era for American spaceflight.
The STS-134 mission served as the 25th and final flight for the space shuttle Endeavour. This particular voyage was significant not only for its logistical goals but for its historical weight as the conclusion of the shuttle program. To rehearse vital actions like different abort modes and launches, Commander Mark Kelly and Pilot Greg Johnson underwent training within a Houston-based shuttle simulator at NASA's Johnson Space Center.
The mission was tasked with delivering high-priority cargo to the International Space Station, most notably the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS). This instrument was designed to study cosmic particles, and its installation was a key highlight of the 16-day mission. In addition to the spectrometer, the team transported a high-pressure gas tank, two communications antennas, and Dextre robot parts as necessary provisions.
The mission also involved four spacewalks and a complex two-day race to rendezvous with and dock at the station. Endeavour's career was defined by its longevity and endurance. Over its lifespan, the shuttle spent a total of 299 days in space, orbiting the Earth 4,671 times and covering a staggering distance of 122,883,151 miles. The STS-134 flight concluded on June 1, 2011, with a landing at the Kennedy Space Center. During the final stages of the mission, Mark Kelly even tested the STORRM system, a sensor test for the Orion spacecraft's relative navigation, signaling the transition from the shuttle era to the next generation of deep-space exploration.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: With Mark Kelly in Command Crew Train for STS-134 Shuttle Mission
- Also: STS-134 - NASA
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