Photo Gallery: Space Shuttle Atlantis - Unveiling - April 2013
Photo: NASA Kennedy
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Photo: NASA Kennedy
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Space Shuttle Atlantis heads into Retirement close to Home |
November 2, 2012 |
Photo: NASA Kennedy
Photo: NASA Kennedy
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Space Shuttle Atlantis has officially entered retirement, being transported from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex where the Orbiter will become the centerpiece of an exhibit about the Space Shuttle program. The new facility at Florida's Space Coast is planned to open to the public in mid-2013. Atlantis will head into retirement close to home, just 12 Kilometers from the two former Space Shuttle Launch Pads at Launch Complex 39 -- right there, where Atlantis used to blast off on her 33 missions.
Atlantis, the final Space Shuttle to leave the KSC, started rolling at about 11:30 UTC as the Orbiter emerged from the huge Vehicle Assembly Building. Atlantis was riding atop the 76-wheel Orbiter Transporter to complete the 15.8-Kilometer trek to the visitor complex. This departure marked the end of Space Shuttle Ground Operations at the Kennedy Space Center that started back in 1979, when Columbia arrived at the center in preparation for the first flight of the Shuttle Fleet in 1981. For Atlantis' short hop to the nearby retirement home, teams had to prepare the path the orbiter would take. A total of 120 light poles and 23 traffic lights were taken down, 66 traffic signs were temporarily removed and one power line was taken down for the Shuttle to pass along the roads that were not nearly as tight as those Space Shuttle Endeavour recently traveled when she was being moved to her Los Angeles retirement home on the other side of the country. As Atlantis was moved out of the VAB early in the morning, she moved down the wide roadway between the three Orbiter Processing Facilities - the Shuttle's former home on Earth. At sunrise, Atlantis turned around and started her trip on the main roadway south at Kennedy. After the first leg of her journey, Atlantis turned off State Road 3 to head westward on 405 for a stop near the KSC Headquarters Building. There, she was welcomed by the Titusville High School marching band, current and former Shuttle workers and astronauts, for a NASA event with Charlie Bolden, during which Atlantis 'Retirement Papers' were signed. |
"Godspeed, Atlantis, on your next mission of inspiration and motivation. Atlantis' final mission may have closed out the space shuttle program, but the spirit that created that program and built her is very much alive," NASA Administrator Charlie Bolden said. "Atlantis now takes on a mission of inspiration for future exploration," said shuttle astronaut Bob Cabana, director of the KSC. Once resuming the trip, Atlantis turned right to travel along Avenue C before turning to 5th Street and rolling to Exploration Park where she stopped for three hours for a public viewing opportunity.
As Atlantis departed Exploration Park, she completed the home stretch on the NASA Causeway being accompanied by more than 30 current and former astronauts. Once arriving at the Visitor Complex, the Orbiter Transporter used a one-use asphalt strip to get from the road to its exhibit. At 22:03 UTC, the Transporter stopped its engine, parking just outside Atlantis' future home. There, Atlantis was welcomed with fireworks. The orbiter was moved into the building later in the night - setting the stage for workers to complete the $100-million facility until mid-2013.
Construction of the facility began back in January with a smart construction plan in mind. With a 24-meter wing-span and a 18 meter tall tail, Atlantis needed to be moved inside the building while it was still under construction. That is why workers stopped after completing three walls of the facility. Atlantis will be rolled in through the open side and workers will quickly erect the fourth wall to close it in. While work is in progress, Atlantis will be covered in shrink wrap to be protected when internal work is in progress.
As Atlantis departed Exploration Park, she completed the home stretch on the NASA Causeway being accompanied by more than 30 current and former astronauts. Once arriving at the Visitor Complex, the Orbiter Transporter used a one-use asphalt strip to get from the road to its exhibit. At 22:03 UTC, the Transporter stopped its engine, parking just outside Atlantis' future home. There, Atlantis was welcomed with fireworks. The orbiter was moved into the building later in the night - setting the stage for workers to complete the $100-million facility until mid-2013.
Construction of the facility began back in January with a smart construction plan in mind. With a 24-meter wing-span and a 18 meter tall tail, Atlantis needed to be moved inside the building while it was still under construction. That is why workers stopped after completing three walls of the facility. Atlantis will be rolled in through the open side and workers will quickly erect the fourth wall to close it in. While work is in progress, Atlantis will be covered in shrink wrap to be protected when internal work is in progress.
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When the facility opens in July 2013, Atlantis will be the centerpiece of an exhibit featuring more than 60 space shuttle artifacts inside the large facility that is being operated by Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts. Inside the 6-story exhibit facility, Atlantis will be displayed as only the astronauts have had a chance to see her in orbit - with her payload bay doors open, communications antenna deployed and Canadarm deployed. The robotic arm will be a replica of the system used in orbit.
For that, the Orbiter will be held in place by support struts so that visitors can walk around the orbiter to see the complete exterior of the vehicle. Atlantis will be lifted 11 meters into the air and tilted 43.2 degrees into its final position inside the facility. Except for the struts, there will be no viewing obstructions so that visitors can see the orbiter from top to bottom. While teams start filling in the wall behind Atlantis, teams will simultaneously begin to lift the Shuttle on November 11. It will take several days to put Atlantis into the correct position and secure the vehicle. The first step in the process will be the deployment of Atlantis' landing gear to allow the Orbiter Transporter to back out. |
Image: NASA
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Support beams and jacks will then be used to lift the orbiter so that the gear can be retracted again the orbiter can be encapsulated in its protective wrap. Larger jacks will then be used to complete the lift before one side is lowered to the correct angle before coming to rest on its support struts. The procedure was rehearsed with a mock-up to make sure Atlantis would not be harmed at any point in the operation.
The orbiter will remain wrapped until spring while work inside the building is still underway. Once that is complete, Atlantis will be unwrapped to begin one more processing flow, being set up for display with her payload bay doors being opened and the other 60 exhibits being moved in position.
The orbiter will remain wrapped until spring while work inside the building is still underway. Once that is complete, Atlantis will be unwrapped to begin one more processing flow, being set up for display with her payload bay doors being opened and the other 60 exhibits being moved in position.
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The exhibit will tell the story of the space shuttle program and its many accomplishments like the Hubble Space Telescope that continues to amaze and inspire people around the planet and the International Space Station, a permanent home for humans in space that would not be there without the Space Shuttle Fleet. In addition to that, international spaceflight will be honored inside the new facility as Atlantis made the first Space Docking to the Russian Space Station Mir – beginning a true international endeavor that space flight has become over the years. In addition to that, several interactive activities and simulators will be part of the new exhibit – giving visitors the opportunity to grapple a satellite with the Shuttle’s robotic arm and crawl through a model of the International Space Station.
On its exterior, the new building will also reflect the Shuttle’s characteristics like the Orbiter’s wings and orange-blue colors representing the re-entry of the Spacecraft on a way to a safe landing and the next mission. Outside, a full-size model of the Shuttle’s External Tank mated to mock-ups of the twin Solid Rocket Boosters will be set up in a erect position to give visitors an impression of the size of the complete Space Shuttle Stack before entering the exhibit to see the real orbiter in its full dimensions. |
Image: NASA
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Atlantis rolled to VAB after completion of T&R Processing
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October 17, 2012
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After moving back to the Orbiter Processing Facility on August 16, Space Shuttle Atlantis completed the final steps of Transition and Retirement Processing – getting ready to roll to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in November. Until then, the Orbiter is staying inside the Vehicle Assembly Building where it arrived on October 17, 2012.
Early in September, a mock airlock was installed inside the Payload Bay of the orbiter. The original Shuttle Airlocks are being preserved for possible future use. Operations continued with the installation of the Space Shuttle Main Engine Heat Shields around the Replica SMEs. Atlantis also completed a functional landing gear test before technicians re-installed Orbital Maneuvering System nozzles on the OMS-Pods of the vehicle. Final Payload Bay configurations took place and included the installation of TV cameras that are part of the KSC VC’s exhibition concept for Atlantis. On September 20, when Payload Bay configurations were complete, Atlantis’ payload bay doors were closed and locked as final midbody and aft closeouts were in progress. Later in September, the Midbody Doors of the orbiter were closed for the final time and so were the aft access doors. On October 11, Bob Cabana, Director of the Kennedy Space Center, and United Space Alliance Technicians closed Atlantis’ crew hatch for the final time. Five days later, the landing gear of the vehicle was retracted and the orbiter transporter was placed underneath Atlantis before installation on the transporter took place. On October 17, Atlantis backed out of Orbiter Processing Facility 2 – becoming the final Space Shuttle to depart the OPF, the home of the Shuttle Fleet on Earth – ending the era of Space Shuttle Processing at the Kennedy Space Center. Atlantis departed the OPF and was rolled to the VAB, stopping along the way for a photo opportunity for KSC employees. Inside the VAB, Atlantis will wait for its roll to the Visitor Complex that is currently planned for November 2. The grand opening of Atlantis’ permanent exhibition is set for July 2013. |
Photo: NASA Kennedy
Photo: NASA Kennedy
Photo Gallery: Hatch Closure
Photo Gallery: Final T&R Processing Photo Gallery: Final Rollover to VAB |
Space Shuttle Endeavour arrives at California Retirement Home
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October 15, 2012
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Photo: NASA
Photo Gallery: Endeavour travels the Streets of Los Angeles
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Space Shuttle Endeavour has completed her procession through the streets of Los Angeles to travel from the Los Angeles International Airport where she arrived on September 21, to the California Science Center - Endeavour's retirement home. About a million spectators gathered along the road and at special public viewing locations to see this surreal sight of the huge Orbiter atop its special transporter rolling through the city, making tight turns with only a few centimeters of margin, and performing multiple-hour stops so obstacles could be cleared.
The 19-Kilometer trip started at 11:25pm local time on Thursday with Endeavour emerging from the LAX United Airlines hangar where the orbiter was processed after completing the final Ferry Flight of the Shuttle Program in September. The Shuttle exited LAX via an access route at 2am local time on Friday to start the road trip. Endeavour crossed Lincoln Boulevard and turned onto Westchester Parkway for the first short leg of the trip. At a top speed of 3.2 Kilometers per hour, Endeavour's transporter was steered by a controller walking alongside the vehicle with a joystick control device. The first long stop of the journey came when Endeavour reached a parking lot of a shopping center on the corner of Sepulveda Parkway. While waiting for power lines to be de-energized and raised to clear the final obstacles along Endeavour's path, the overland transporter was configured from its narrow mode to a wide configuration for straddling the roadway medians. During this pause, a large crow came to see Endeavour. Although the area was not specified as a public viewing area, visitors got a fairly close view of the Shuttle. Law enforcement showed presence throughout the transfer operation to keep the orbiter safe at all times, but LAPD personnel and volunteers allowed the public an extraordinary look at the Shuttle. Over the course of the transfer, the police did not report any incidents. |
Photo: NASA
Photo: NASA
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After an 8-hour stop, Endeavour continued the journey along La Tijera and Manchester Avenue. One more stop for utility work took place when Endeavour arrived at a position near Randy's Donuts with its oversized donut-shaped sign. The trip resumed, and once reaching her next stop just shy of the 405 Freeway Overpass Endeavour underwent preparations for a special event.
The motorized wheel dollies of the transporter were removed, special undercarriages were put in place and a Toyota Tundra pickup truck was hooked up to tow Endeavour across the overpass. To meet the weight distribution requirements for traveling across the Manchester Boulevard Bridge, the Shuttle needed to trade its special transporter that was not certified to drive on the overpass. The Toyota that was not modified and was driven by professional stuntman Matt McBride and Astronaut Garrett Reisman who launched on Endeavour in 2008, was riding in the passenger seat. The vehicle started to tow Endeavour at 11:33pm local time.
Thousands of spectators gathered to witness the event and Toyota Motors set up filming equipment to shoot the short drive. This special event continued a partnership of Toyota and the California Science Center. Toyota Motor Sales and the California Science Center have started this campaign to provide support to education and raise awareness for the space program. The Toyota Truck will go on display at CSC after its job is done. In addition, Toyota has started an extensive online and social media campaign associated with the event. TMS will donate $50 for the first 10,000 Re-Tweets on Twitter to support the Science Center in building the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.
The motorized wheel dollies of the transporter were removed, special undercarriages were put in place and a Toyota Tundra pickup truck was hooked up to tow Endeavour across the overpass. To meet the weight distribution requirements for traveling across the Manchester Boulevard Bridge, the Shuttle needed to trade its special transporter that was not certified to drive on the overpass. The Toyota that was not modified and was driven by professional stuntman Matt McBride and Astronaut Garrett Reisman who launched on Endeavour in 2008, was riding in the passenger seat. The vehicle started to tow Endeavour at 11:33pm local time.
Thousands of spectators gathered to witness the event and Toyota Motors set up filming equipment to shoot the short drive. This special event continued a partnership of Toyota and the California Science Center. Toyota Motor Sales and the California Science Center have started this campaign to provide support to education and raise awareness for the space program. The Toyota Truck will go on display at CSC after its job is done. In addition, Toyota has started an extensive online and social media campaign associated with the event. TMS will donate $50 for the first 10,000 Re-Tweets on Twitter to support the Science Center in building the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.
Photo: NASA
Photo: NASA
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After crossing the Freeway, Endeavour's transporter was re-configured to its normal mode to continue the move. On Saturday, Endeavour continued its road trip to The Forum, the former indoor arena of the Lakers. Endeavour participated in a half-hour event to celebrate her arrival. California Science Center and Los Angeles officials along with astronauts of the Apollo and Shuttle programs and other celebrities gathered to greet Endeavour. After the event, Endeavour departed The Forum for the next leg of her trip. After traveling on Manchester, Endeavour atop her transporter, had to make a very tight turn to Crenshaw Drive. Teams had to back up and wiggle the vehicle a little bit before the orbiter made the turn, with just a few centimeters of clearance between the wings and some trees. Endeavour headed to Crenshaw Boulevard to go to the intersection of Crenshaw and Martin Luther King where a right turn was made for Endeavour to continue east. The final leg on Crenshaw took more time than expected as some delicate maneuvering had to be made to keep the wings clear of natural and utility obstacles. Once turning to MLK, the Transporter was reconfigured to the narrow mode for more precise driving. Motion resumed at about 1:30am local time on Sunday after a significant delay pushing back Endeavour's arrival at the Science Center as Endeavour passed through a route with very tight quarters on MLK. Endeavour needed about 12 hours complete a 5-Kilometer path as trees that were not cut down presented a large challenge to teams. A total of 61 hours after departing LAX – at about 19:00 UTC on Sunday, Endeavour turned into Exposition Park to roll the final meters to the California Space Center’s Space Shuttle Pavilion – receiving a very warm welcome from a tremendous crowd as well as Los Angeles and CSC officials, welcoming her to her new home after a remarkably journey that will never be seen again. "Getting the space shuttle from LAX to the science center was no small feat. But you made the Endeavour's final mission a success. Mission 26, mission accomplished," Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said. "Nothing like this has ever been attempted before, and nothing like this will ever be attempted again. This was not just a once in a lifetime event, this was a once event, and I'm heartened and we're all heartened at the reception that all Angelinos have given it." Now, after completing Mission 26 as this final transfer of Endeavour was nicknamed, the Orbiter is set to begin a completely new mission – inspiring the future generation of explorers, to inspire young generations to get interested in science and pave the way for new discoveries. On October 30, Endeavour’s temporary exhibit, the Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Endeavour Display Pavilion, will open to the public at the California Science Center that plans to build a permanent exhibit with Endeavour mated to an External Fuel Tank and two Boosters as if she was poised to launch. |
Space Shuttle Endeavour ready for final Road Trip
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October 11, 2012
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Photo: NASA
Photo: NASA
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Space Shuttle Endeavour is set to be transported through the city streets of Los Angeles on Friday and Saturday to cover the final 19 Kilometers from the Los Angeles Air Port to her retirement home, the California Science Center.
After arriving at LAX on September 21, Endeavour was hoisted off the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, placed on its transporter and rolled inside the United Airlines Hangar for final processing. Inside the hangar, the team lowered the body flap to remove the protective tailcone that was attached for the Ferry Flight. Support struts were removed from the vehicle and the Replica Shuttle Main Engines were re-positioned. Endeavour’s vent doors were closed and the body flap was raised again before engine nozzles were attached to the OMS-Pods. Inside the crew cabin, teams made final reconfigurations and retrieved symbolic items that flew from the Kennedy Space Center to LAX aboard Endeavour. With Endeavour ready to go on display, teams performed final preparations for the two-day trip. The move is set to begin early on Friday, at about 2am local time, and conclude late on Saturday. Endeavour will make this journey atop a modified NASA overland transporter being driven by by four self propelled, computer controlled vehicles. For the a few hundred meters, the Shuttle will be towed by a Toyota Tundra truck. Along the route, public viewing is only limited to a few areas due to the complexity of the move, requiring streets and sidewalks to be shut down as Endeavour makes her slow trip. In addition, preparations for this trip included a great deal of planning, engineering evaluations and preparations to make sure there would be no unexpected obstacles on or along the road for Endeavour. These preparations included moving power lines, relocating traffic lights and city lights, and trimming or transplanting trees. Trees that had to be cut down are being replaced by the City of Los Angeles with up to four new trees for each tree that was removed, plus two years of tree maintenance. |
The police expects extremely large crowds to see the Shuttle make this final trip and with many roads closed and limited parking, city traffic could become congested and visitors should expect long delays getting in and out of the area.
Map: California Science Center
Endeavour departs the LAX property at 2am local time on Friday to set the stage for a day filled with short drives and long stops as teams will be raising power lines along the route from the airport and the 405 Freeway. Once leaving LAX, Endeavour will make a short drive on Northside Parkway before turning to Westchester Parkway. The Shuttle will turn from Westchester Boulevard to La Tijera followed by a turn to Manchester Avenue. When crossing Sepulveda Boulevard, Endeavour will stop at a parking lot for about nine hours as power lines are de-energized and raised for the orbiter to pass underneath. In the afternoon, Endeavour will continue down Manchester Blvd crossing into Inglewood for another six-hour stop. When arriving at the San Diego Freeway, Endeavour will be towed by the Toyota as the Computer-Driven Transporters are not cleared to be used on an overpass.
Endeavour will be towed by a 2012 Toyota Tundra that has not been modified to provide more power or towing capacity. A special dolly will be used to tow Endeavour. Toyota Motor Sales and the California Science Center have started this campaign to provide support to education and raise awareness for the space program. The Toyota Truck will go on display at CSC after its job is done. In addition, Toyota has started an extensive online and social media campaign associated with the event. TMS will donate $50 for the first 10,000 Re-Tweets on Twitter to support the Science Center in building the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.
Endeavour will be towed by a 2012 Toyota Tundra that has not been modified to provide more power or towing capacity. A special dolly will be used to tow Endeavour. Toyota Motor Sales and the California Science Center have started this campaign to provide support to education and raise awareness for the space program. The Toyota Truck will go on display at CSC after its job is done. In addition, Toyota has started an extensive online and social media campaign associated with the event. TMS will donate $50 for the first 10,000 Re-Tweets on Twitter to support the Science Center in building the Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center.
Photo: NASA
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On Saturday morning, at around 8am local, Endeavour will pass by the Inglewood City Hall continuing its trip for a stop at The Forum for a ceremony. More than 10,000 people are expected to attend the event. After the ceremony, Endeavour will turn to Crenshaw Boulevard, making another stop before rolling along Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard where Endeavour will have another ceremony at about 2pm. The final leg of the trip will take Endeavour along King to Bill Robertson Lane before making a final turn into Exposition Park allowing Endeavour to be rolled directly to the California Science Center Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Pavilion. Endeavour is planned to arrive at about 9pm on Saturday. The arrival at OSC may be the best opportunity for public viewing of Endeavour’s final journey.
The Samuel Oschin Space Shuttle Display Pavilion is set to open to the public on October 30. |
Credit: LAPD
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Credit: LAPD
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Endeavour hoisted off Shuttle Carrier Aircraft at LAX |
September 24, 2012 |
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After arriving in California for final retirement, Space Shuttle Endeavour was offloaded from the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on Friday and Saturday at Los Angeles International Airport.
After landing and being welcomed by NASA and California Science Center Officials, Endeavour underwent demating and offloading operations overnight on Friday. At LAX, a two-crane system was used to demate Endeavour. This two-crane contraption had already been used earlier this year during the transfers of Shuttle Discovery and the prototype Orbiter Enterprise. In addition to the two cranes, a wind-restraint assembly was used to gently lift the Orbiter to enable the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft to back up. The Wind restraint system provided a fixed attachment to the ground to keep the complex stabilized while Endeavour was attached to the Sling System. Four masts were part of the restraint. A total of 200 attach points had to be drilled into the tarmac to facilitate the system. After the plane had been removed, Endeavour was gently lowered onto an overland transporter with self-propelled wheel dollies that will be used for Endeavour’s journey to the California Science Center. The sling was disconnected and Endeavour was placed next to the modified 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft to take advantage of this photo opportunity for the final time. The operation was completed overnight to make sure winds were calm and personnel could communicate properly without the noise of arriving and departing aircraft present during the day. Later, Endeavour was rolled inside the nearby United Airlines Hangar. The Orbiter will spend several weeks inside the United Airlines Hangar at LAX while preparations for moving the Shuttle to its final retirement home are underway. Inside the hangar, Shuttle workers will remove the protective tailcone from Endeavour, re-position the Engine Nozzles and remove support struts that were in place for the ferry flight. In addition, all finishing touches such as putting various doors on the Orbiter in the proper configuration, will be performed at LAX so that Endeavour is in its final display configuration when rolling over to her new home on October 12 and 13. |
Photo: NASA
Photo: NASA
Photo Gallery: LAX Landing
Photo Gallery: Endeavour Demating Photo Gallery: Endeavour Processing at LAX |
The NASA 905 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is planned to make its last flight on Monday for a short hop from LAX to Edwards Air Force Base in order to be retired at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center to become a parts donor for the 747 SOFIA Aircraft.
Endeavour arrives at LAX to end the Era of Shuttle Ferry Flights |
September 21, 2012 |
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Space Shuttle Endeavour has arrived in Los Angeles after completing the final leg of her three-day Ferry Flight atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft flying from Edwards Air Force Base to Los Angeles International Airport, taking a detour to make flyovers of a number of California cities and locations on Friday.
After spending the night at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center, the SCA took off on this final flight of Endeavour at 15:17 UTC on a planned 4.5-hour sight-seeing tour of California. First, the SCA made another flyover of Edwards, before heading out to make flybys of Sacramento and the San Francisco Bay Area including the Golden Gate Bridge. The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft was accompanied by one or two jets for most of its journey taking it to NASA's Ames Research Center, making flyovers of Moffet Field, and passing by Vandenberg Air Force Station and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory before heading into the Los Angeles area. The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft spent about one hour touring the LA area, performing low-altitude flyovers of a large portion of the city including the California Science Center, LAX, Disneyland, The Getty Center, Griffith Observatory, City Hall, Malibu, the Queen Mary, Universal Studios, the Hollywood Sign and Venice Beach. At 12:51 local time, 19:51 UTC, the Endeavour touched down for the final time. The SCA being controlled by veteran NASA Pilot Jeff Moultrie, made a perfect landing at Los Angeles International Airport, delivering Endeavour to its destination after a flawless three-day good-bye tour taking the Shuttle from Coast to Coast attracting thousands of spectators that enjoyed the sight of a Space Shuttle atop a Boeing 747 for the final time in history. Endeavour is now set for the complex demating operation that will take place at LAX after a ceremonial reception has taken place at the airport to welcome Endeavour. |
Photo: NASA
Photo: NASA
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Image: NASA
Photo: NASA
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To remove Endeavour at Los Angeles International Airport where no Space Shuttle Mate-Demate Device is available, a portable demate system will be used that is similar to that Discovery used when arriving at Dulles International Airport earlier this year.
To Demate Endeavour, a 90 by 90-meter area is required plus 125 meters behind the SCA to back it out after the Shuttle is removed. A dual-crane system and a wind-restraint assembly will be used to gently lift the Orbiter to enable the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft to back up. The Wind restraint system provides a fixed attachment to the ground to keep the complex stabilized while Endeavour is attached to the Sling System. Four masts are part of the restraint. After the plane is removed, Endeavour will gently be lowered onto an overland transporter with self-propelled wheel dollies that will be used for Endeavour’s journey to the California Science Center. The sling will be disconnected and Endeavour will be rolled to a nearby hangar. The Orbiter will spend several weeks inside the United Airlines Hangar at LAX while preparations for moving the Shuttle to its final retirement home are underway. Inside the hangar, Shuttle workers will remove the protective tailcone from Endeavour, re-position the Engine Nozzles and remove support struts that were in place for the ferry flight. In addition, all finishing touches such as putting various doors on the Orbiter in the proper configuration, will be performed at LAX so that Endeavour is in its final display configuration when rolling over to her new home in mid-October. The NASA 905 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft is now also gearing up to head into retirement. It will make one last flight on September 26, to go back to Edwards Air Force Base. There, the modified 747 will enter the SOFIA Program (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) serving as a donor of spare parts for the aircraft that houses the SOFIA telescope. Among other components, the NASA905 Aircraft will donate its engines to keep SOFIA in tip-top shape. NASA911, the other Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, made its last flight in February of 2012 also transitioning to the SOFIA Mission. |
With Friday's Landing, the era of Shuttle Ferry Flights has now ended after 35 years and a total of 107 flights of a Space Shuttle on the back of a modified 747 aircraft. Ferry Flights were performed to deliver the Shuttle's from heir birthplace, the Palmdale Factory, to their home on Earth, the Kennedy Space Center, fly the orbiters back from landings at alternate sites and moving the fleet for modifications and maintenance. Way back at the start of the program, the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft was essential in performing crucial tests to qualify the Shuttles for flight, making Approach and Landing Tests in 1977 - releasing the prototype orbiter Enterprise in mid-air for landing demonstrations at Edwards Air Force Base.
Endeavour herself completed 25 space missions, spent 299 days in orbit, and orbited Earth 4,671 times performing ISS Assembly Missions, Hubble Space Telescope Servicing and satellite deployments and retrievals.
This three-day Ferry Operation that started at the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, marked the final time a Space Shuttle was to be seen in flight. Now that Endeavour has arrived in California, Discovery is at the Smithsonian, Enterprise is at the Intrepid, and Atlantis is set for permanent display at the Kennedy Space Center, the flying days of the Space Shuttle are over for good. The Orbiters are now getting started with a whole new mission of inspiring generations of visitors that can now get up close with these incredible flying machines.
Photos: California Tour
Photos: LAX Arrival & Flyovers
Endeavour herself completed 25 space missions, spent 299 days in orbit, and orbited Earth 4,671 times performing ISS Assembly Missions, Hubble Space Telescope Servicing and satellite deployments and retrievals.
This three-day Ferry Operation that started at the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, marked the final time a Space Shuttle was to be seen in flight. Now that Endeavour has arrived in California, Discovery is at the Smithsonian, Enterprise is at the Intrepid, and Atlantis is set for permanent display at the Kennedy Space Center, the flying days of the Space Shuttle are over for good. The Orbiters are now getting started with a whole new mission of inspiring generations of visitors that can now get up close with these incredible flying machines.
Photos: California Tour
Photos: LAX Arrival & Flyovers
Endeavour - One Step closer to her Retirement Home |
September 20, 2012 |
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Space Shuttle Endeavour is one major step closer to its California Retirement Home after completing the second day of the three-day Ferry Operation, being flown atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft from Ellington Field, Houston, Texas, to Edwards Air Force Base, California with a refueling stop and a number of flyovers along the way.
The day began very early, local time, at Ellington Field with departure preparations so that the SCA was able to take off early in the morning. At 7:03 local time, 12:03 UTC, the SCA was wheels up and ready to depart Houston after making one final flyover of the Johnson Space Center and Downtown area. While sitting on top of the SCA near the NASA Hangar 990 at Ellington, Endeavour was visited by a large crowd that took advantage of the extended public viewing on Wednesday, greeting Endeavour until about 9pm local. After the SCA departed Houston, Austin locals were treated with low-altitude flyovers of Endeavour as the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft made its trek to Biggs Army Air Field near El Paso, Texas. Touchdown was at 8:12 local time, 14:12 UTC, and the SCA performed a brief refueling stop of just under three hours to resume the Ferry Operation at 11am local. This next leg of the journey involved a number of flyovers at an altitude of 450 meters. These included NASA's White Sands Test Facility in New Mexico, as well as Tucson, Arizona to honor injured Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, wife of Endeavour's final commander, Mark Kelly. The Tucson Flyover took place about 1 hour and 15 minutes after takeoff (at around 18:15 UTC). Endeavour touched down at Edwards Air Force Base at 19:51 UTC for a final one-night layover ahead of the final flight for Endeavour that is planned to take place tomorrow. At Dryden, 40 lucky NASA Social Participants that were chosen from more than 2,300 followers that applied for a spot, were able to watch the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft arrive and hear from the 747 SCA pilots and crew about their experiences. In the morning of September 21, the SCA and Endeavour take off from Dryden for a long sight-seeing tour of California. Before heading out, the SCA will make low passes over Palmdale, Lancaster, Rosamond and Mojave. NASA 905 will make low-altitude passes over northern California flying over NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, and multiple cities including San Francisco and Sacramento. When getting to Los Angeles, the SCA will make flyovers of a number of locations. |
Photo: NASA
Photo: NASA
Photo Gallery: Layover at Ellington
Photo Gallery: Ellington Departure Videos: Endeavour's Final Flight |
"There will be opportunities to see Endeavour passing regional landmarks such as, its future home at the California Science Center, Los Angeles City Hall, Disneyland, the Getty Center, Griffith Observatory, Long Beach Aquarium of the Pacific, Malibu,NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Queen Mary, Universal Studios and Venice Beach, among others," the California Science Center announced. The exact path the Shuttle will take depends on weather conditions and operational constraints as activities have to be choreographed within the local airspace.
Landing at Los Angeles International Airport is expected at noon local time.
Landing at Los Angeles International Airport is expected at noon local time.
Endeavour completes first Leg of three-day Ferry Flight |
September 19, 2012 |
Photo: NASA Kennedy
Photo: NASA Kennedy
Photo: NASA Kennedy
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Flying atop the NASA905 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, Space Shuttle Endeavour has completed the first leg of the shuttle program's final Ferry Flight to deliver Endeavour to California for public display at the California Science Center.
For the last time in history, Space Shuttle Endeavour departed the Kennedy Space Center, her home on Earth for the past 21 years, on Wednesday, September 19 to begin her final Ferry Flight. The modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft took off from Runway 15 of the Shuttle Landing Facility at 7:22 Eastern Time, 11:22 UTC under the control of veteran SCA pilot Jeff Moultrie. At the Shuttle Landing Facility, a number of spectators and journalists gathered to watch as the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft departed KSC one final time. After taking off and climbing to about 450 meters, the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft performed low-altitude flyovers of Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Patrick Air Force Base and Space Coast Beaches where a number of locals gathered to watch the Shuttle fly overhead trying to get another glimpse of the orbiter through the scattered clouds that were covering a large portion of the sky. The SCA performed one more low-pass over the Shuttle Landing Facility before departing the vicinity of the Kennedy Space Center to head north-west to complete the first leg of this 3-day Ferry Operation which marks the final flight for Endeavour and the final flight of NASA905 as a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Endeavour made her final Space Flight in May 2011 – delivering the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to the International Space Station. Space Shuttle Endeavour began construction in 1987 as a replacement for the Challenger Orbiter, being delivered to the Kennedy Space Center in 1991 and making her maiden flight one year later. Since then, Endeavour completed 25 missions, spent 299 days in orbit, and orbited Earth 4,671 times performing ISS Assembly Missions, Hubble Space Telescope Servicing and satellite deployments and retrievals. At about 13:15 UTC, the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft lowered its altitude to 450 meters to perform low-altitude flyovers of NASA's Stennis Space Center, Mississippi, where the Shuttle's Main Engines were developed and tested early in the program. Now, the remaining 15 SSMEs are in storage at Stennis waiting for future assignments on the Space Launch System. Also, the SCA flew over the Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans, where the Space Shuttle's External Fuel Tanks were manufactured. Once again raising its altitude to about 5 Kilometers, the SCA continued its cruise to the west to reach the Texas Gulf Coast. Starting at about 14:30 UTC, the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft began a series of flyovers of Houston, Clear Lake and Galveston, passing over NASA's Johnson Space Center, the home of the shuttle program and NASA Mission Control. |
NASA905 touched down at Ellington Field at 10:40 local time, 15:40 UTC and taxied to its parking position near NASA Hangar 990 where the vehicle was secured. A large crowd had gathered to welcome the orbiter. Endeavour is available for public viewing until today, 9pm local time, and visitors are allowed to get quite close to the vehicle.
Originally, Endeavour was planned to spend two nights in Houston, but due to the two-day delay caused by unfavorable weather conditions, Endeavour's stay was shortened to limit re-scheduling operations further down the timeline. At first light on Thursday, Endeavour riding atop the SCA will depart Houston for Biggs Army Air Field in El Paso, Texas for a short refueling stop before getting airborne again en-route to Edwards Air Force Base California. On its way, the SCA will perform Low-Altitude Flyovers of the White Sands Test Facility, New Mexico which served as a backup landing site during the Shuttle Program, although, it only saw one landing when Space Shuttle Columbia returned from Mission STS-3 in 1982. In addition, NASA905 will pass over the Dryden Flight Research Center before landing at Edwards. After a one-night stop, Endeavour will make her final flight on Friday, when she is taken on a California sight-seeing tour before arriving at LAX at around 11am local time on September 21.
Photo Gallery: NASA905 Takeoff from KSC
Photo Gallery: Houston Flyovers
Originally, Endeavour was planned to spend two nights in Houston, but due to the two-day delay caused by unfavorable weather conditions, Endeavour's stay was shortened to limit re-scheduling operations further down the timeline. At first light on Thursday, Endeavour riding atop the SCA will depart Houston for Biggs Army Air Field in El Paso, Texas for a short refueling stop before getting airborne again en-route to Edwards Air Force Base California. On its way, the SCA will perform Low-Altitude Flyovers of the White Sands Test Facility, New Mexico which served as a backup landing site during the Shuttle Program, although, it only saw one landing when Space Shuttle Columbia returned from Mission STS-3 in 1982. In addition, NASA905 will pass over the Dryden Flight Research Center before landing at Edwards. After a one-night stop, Endeavour will make her final flight on Friday, when she is taken on a California sight-seeing tour before arriving at LAX at around 11am local time on September 21.
Photo Gallery: NASA905 Takeoff from KSC
Photo Gallery: Houston Flyovers
Endeavour ready for Ferry Flight Takeoff - pending Weather |
September 18, 2012 |
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After number of weather related delays, Space Shuttle Endeavour and the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft are finally getting ready to depart the Kennedy Space Center to begin the cross-country trip to Los Angeles International Airport.
The Ferry Flight had to be delayed twice when unstable weather along the Gulf Coast would have placed the flight path of the aircraft through rain and thunderstorms which is undesirable for Shuttle Ferry Flights. Endeavour is now set to depart the Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at 11:15 UTC after a final weather review at 9 UTC has to give the green light for takeoff. On Tuesday, the modified Boeing 747 with Endeavour on top was rolled back under the Mate-Demate Device at the Shuttle Landing Facility to provide some shelter during afternoon thunderstorms to make sure no damage occurred to the Orbiter and its Thermal Protection System was not exposed to heavy rain which could add weight to the stack as the material absorbs water. Endeavour spends her final night under Florida Skies before Ferry Operations begin at first light on Wednesday. After turning on its engines and going through the pre-taxi checklist, the SCA controlled by NASA Pilot Jeff Moultrie will perform a slow taxi to the end of the runway to give photographers a chance to capture Endeavour’s departure. After taking off from the Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility at about 11:15 UTC, the SCA will perform several flyovers of the Cape Canaveral area. The SCA will be getting Airborne at a Speed of 180 knots about 3 Kilometers down the Runway. After taking off, the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft will perform flyovers of the Space Coast to give locals a chance to say Goodbye to Endeavour, a veteran of 25 Space Flights and the youngest of the Shuttle Fleet. The exact route depends on operational and weather constraints, but the SCA is expected to make flyovers of the KSC, the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and Patrick Air Force Base. Florida Flyovers are expected to take about 30 minutes. Afterwards, the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft will turn north-west to plot a coastal trek towards NASA's Stennis Space Center where the Shuttle Main Engines were tested before and during the Shuttle Program. Now, the 15 remaining Space Shuttle Main Engines are in storage at Stennis. The 747 with Endeavour on top will make low-altitude Flyovers of Stennis and the Michoud Assembly Facility, New Orleans, where the External Fuel Tanks of the Shuttle were manufactured. When arriving at the Texas Gulf Coast, the SCA with Endeavour on top will perform low-altitude flyovers of Houston, Clear Lake and Galveston before landing at Ellington Field near NASA's Johnson Space Center. Landing at Ellington is expected around 15:45 UTC after about 90 minutes of flyovers starting at 9am Central Time, 14:00 UTC. The rest of the day, Endeavour will be visited by Johnson Space Shuttle workers and former shuttle flight controllers. On Thursday, endeavour will resume her journey flying to Biggs Army Airfield in El Paso, Texas for a refueling stop. |
Photo: NASA Kennedy
Photo: NASA Kennedy
Photo: NASA Kennedy
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When taking off from Biggs, the SCA heads west again, performing flyovers of the White Sands Test Facility near Las Cruces, New Mexico, and flying over NASA’s Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
After landing at Edwards and spending the night, Endeavour begins a long sight-seeing tour of California on Friday. NASA 905 will make low-altitude passes over northern California flying over NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, and multiple cities including San Francisco and Sacramento. Afterwards, the SCA heads to Los Angeles for another series of low-altitude flyovers of different sites around Los Angeles. Touchdown at the Los Angeles International Airport is set for 11am local time (18:00 UTC) to conclude the final Ferry Flight of the Shuttle Program.
Photo Galleries: Shuttle Retirement Gallery
After landing at Edwards and spending the night, Endeavour begins a long sight-seeing tour of California on Friday. NASA 905 will make low-altitude passes over northern California flying over NASA's Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, and multiple cities including San Francisco and Sacramento. Afterwards, the SCA heads to Los Angeles for another series of low-altitude flyovers of different sites around Los Angeles. Touchdown at the Los Angeles International Airport is set for 11am local time (18:00 UTC) to conclude the final Ferry Flight of the Shuttle Program.
Photo Galleries: Shuttle Retirement Gallery
Endeavour's Ferry Flight delayed again |
September 17, 2012 UPDATED |
Photo: NASA Kennedy
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After being installed on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on Friday & Saturday, Space Shuttle Endeavour is ready to make one final journey in preparation for public display at the California Science Center, but the Shuttle's stay at Florida's Space Coast has been extended by another day due to an unfavorable weather forecast. On Sunday, the Ferry Flight Readiness Review was conducted and concluded with a decision to delay the flight by at least 24 hours. Continuously bad weather along the flight path to Houston, Texas, caused another delay on Monday. A low pressure front in the northern Gulf of Mexico is causing thunderstorms and unstable weather conditions which could prevent a safe landing at Ellington Field and teams want to make sure the flight can proceed as safe as possible.
With this additional delay, the timeline of the Ferry Fight has to be revised and Endeavour's arrival at Los Angeles International Airport could slip as a result of that rescheduling. The next weather review takes place on Tuesday at 15:00 UTC with an earliest takeoff on Wednesday. Early in the morning on Sunday, the NASA 905 Aircraft with Endeavour attached on top of it was moved out of the Mate-Demate Device where the Orbiter was installed in its position on the modified Boeing 747. Being parked out on the Shuttle Landing Facility, Endeavour received a final Goodbye from Kennedy Space Center Employees, Astronauts and journalists. Endeavour is now set to spend her final nights at the Kennedy Space Center and under Florida Skies sitting at the Shuttle Landing Facility. Photo Gallery: Endeavour's Final Days at KSC |
Endeavour installed on Shuttle Carrier Aircraft for Ferry Flight |
September 15, 2012 |
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Space Shuttle Endeavour has been mated to the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft in preparation for the cross-country trip that is planned from September 17 to September 20 to deliver Endeavour to Los Angeles for permanent display at the California Science Center. Endeavour was installed on the NASA 905 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on Friday and Saturday using the Mate-Demate Device at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center.
Endeavour departed the Vehicle Assembly Building where she was spending the final few weeks at the KSC after Transition Retirement on Endeavour was complete. On Friday, early in the morning local time at about 5am EDT, the Shuttle departed the VAB to roll across the Kennedy Space Center, Endeavour's home on Earth for the past 21 years, for one final time. The slow trip to the MDD took about two hours. Moving at a gentle pace, the Orbiter arrived at the MDD at about 7am local time. Shortly after arriving at the Mate-Demate-Device, technicians started operations to attach Endeavour to the large yellow lifting sling of the MDD in order to be hoisted up. For that, Endeavour was parked in an exact position and the sling was lowered. The forward attach points were hooked up before the aft attachments were secured. The Nose Gear was lifted up and access platforms were retracted in preparation for lifting the vehicle. Once all wheels were in the air, a cart providing hydraulic pressure was hooked up to Endeavour and the landing gear was commanded to retract via a cable that was routed through the crew module and its hatch prior to hatch closure that took place several weeks ago. Once the gear was retracted and associated doors were closed, Endeavour was hoisted so that the modified Boeing 747 aircraft could pull in underneath the shuttle. The SCA was placed in an exact position underneath the MDD so that mating operations could start. The Orbiter was lowered very carefully and Orbiter-To-SCA Connecting Operations began – sitting the Orbiter down on three attachment fittings achieving a soft-mate at 18:41 UTC on Friday with Endeavour structurally attached to the SCA. At that point, Friday's Operations concluded - leaving only a few open items for Saturday. Getting an early start on Saturday, teams broke out the torquing devices to firmly secure the bolts achieve a hard mate. Endeavour was firmly attached to the SCA at around 13:00 UTC on Saturday. The SCA features several modifications that allow it to carry Space Shuttle Orbiters. Three struts with associated interior structural strengthening protrude from the top of the fuselage and serve as attachment points for the Orbiter. Aft of the Forward Doors, all interior furnishings were removed in order to reduce weight. When Endeavour was installed atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, technicians verified that everything was in place and gave the GO to remove the Sling which was then pulled up. This marked the final time a Mate-Demate Device would be used to install/remove a Space Shuttle from the SCA. There are two MDDs, one at the KSC and one at Edwards Air Force Base, the backup landing site of the Shuttle Fleet. With Endeavour's installation complete, teams can begin final close-outs and prepare the combined vehicle for pushback. The SCA and Endeavour will be pushed out of the Mate-Demate Device on Sunday at about 11 UTC placing the aircraft next to the MDD to give Shuttle workers the opportunity to say their final Good Byes and take some more images with Endeavour, the youngest of the Shuttle Fleet. Endeavour will spend her final night under Florida Skies before takeoff of the Ferry Flight early on Monday. A Ferry Flight Readiness Review will be held at KSC on Sunday at 17:00 UTC and managers will take a look at a all systems and the weather conditions expected for Endeavour's cross-country flight. For a detailed overview of Endeavour's Final Ferry Flight, visit our extensive Overview. Visit our Photo Galleries for more than 100 images of ongoing Ferry Operations: Roll to MDD Installation on Shuttle Carrier Aircraft |
Photo: NASA Kennedy
Photo: NASA Kennedy
Photo: NASA Kennedy
Photo: NASA Kennedy
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Overview: Endeavour's Final Ferry Flight |
September 11, 2012 |
Shuttle Ferry Flight File Image - Photo: NASA Kennedy
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Space Shuttle Endeavour is getting ready for one final journey – riding atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft carrying it from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center at Florida’s Space Coast to the Los Angeles National Airport, LAX in preparation for public display at the California Science Center.
Endeavour is spending her final days at the Kennedy Space Center – her home of 21 years, waiting inside the Vehicle Assembly Building after completing the lengthy Transition and Retirement Processing at KSC. Endeavour will be moved from the VAB to the Shuttle Landing Facility where it will be installed on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft using the Mate-Demate Device. The modified Boeing 747 Carrier Aircraft arrived at KC on September 11 and will depart with Endeavour on top of it on September 17, 2012. >>>Ferry Flight Overview |
Atlantis and Endeavour meet one final time during Shuttle Shuffle |
August 16, 2012 |
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Space Shuttles Endeavour and Atlantis have completed the final Shuttle Shuffle at the Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, August 16, 2012, meeting for the final time before parting ways forever.
Endeavour was inside Orbiter Processing Facility 2 for several months to finish her Transition and Retirement processing to get ready for public display while Atlantis was waiting inside the Vehicle Assembly Building since June 29 after vacating Orbiter Processing Facility 1 for future operations not related to the Space Shuttle Program. With Endeavour being fully safed, drained of any toxic substances and powered down for the final time, technicians completed the final tasks such as the installation of Replica Shuttle Main Engines, their Heat Shields and the protective Tailcone for the Ferry Flight. With Processing being complete, Endeavour's hatch was closed for the final time at the KSC, her home of 19 years. To make room for Atlantis, Endeavour left the OPF on Thursday morning, local time, while Atlantis was also towed out from High Bay 4 of the VAB. Meeting briefly for a Nose-To-Nose Photo Opportunity, Atlantis and Endeavour provided this iconic picture for the final time - never to meet 'in person' again after Endeavour leaves for California and Atlantis rolls over to the KSC Visitor Complex later this year. Well before 15:00 UTC, the two Orbiters came to a stop at their new locations. Atlantis inside OPF-2 where she will resume T&R Processing and Endeavour inside the Vehicle Assembly Building to wait for her final Ferry Flight. Atlantis is set for a Rollover to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex later this year and a grand opening of her exhibit in July 2013. The youngest of the Shuttle Fleet, Endeavour, is set for her ferry flight in mid-September. The orbiter will depart the VAB on September 15 to move to the mate-demate device where she will be installed on the modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. Current plans call for a Takeoff from the Shuttle Landing Facility at Cape Canaveral on September 17. Endeavour is set to arrive at Los Angeles International Airport on September 20. After being demated from the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, Endeavour will have to wait for several weeks before being moved to the California Science Center for permanent public display in mid-October. Photo Gallery: Final Shuttle Shuffle |
Photo: NASA Kennedy
Photo: NASA Kennedy
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Endeavour completes Ferry Preparations ahead of Shuttle Shuffle |
August 13, 2012 |
Photo: NASA Kennedy
Photo Gallery: Endeavour - RSME Heat Shield Installation
Photo Gallery: Tailcone Installation Photo Gallery: Cabin Seat Installation Photo Gallery: Final KSC Hatch Closure |
Space Shuttle Retirement Processing is continuing on Shuttle Endeavour inside Orbiter Processing Facility 2 at the Kennedy Space Center. After the Replica Shuttle Main Engines were installed on the orbiter in July, technicians spent several days installing the Main Engines Heat Shields around the RSMEs. Also, Ferry Flight Doors were put in place in preparation for Endeavour's final Ferry Flight in mid-September. On August 3, the Tailcone that will be used to protect the vehicle's Engines was moved from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the OPF for installation. Tailcone Installation took place on August 6, and was completed without any problems. On August 10, 2012, Endeavours hatch was closed and latched for the final time at the Kennedy Space Center, Endeavour's home for the past 19 years. Before hatch closure, the Mission Specialist Seats were installed inside the Crew Cabin. For the hatch closure milestone, Center Director Bob Cabana joined Kennedy employees in Orbiter Processing Facility-2 to mark the occasion. With T&R Processing essentially complete on Endeavour, the vehicle is ready to be rolled to the Vehicle Assembly Building to spend the final weeks at KSC there while Atlantis can move back to the Processing Facility for resume T&R Operations. The Shuttle Shuffle will take place on Thursday, August 16 in the morning hours local time. The two Shuttles will be parked Nose-to-Nose for a short while to provide a photo opportunity to members of the media.
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Endeavour gets her old Looks back - RSME Installation complete |
July 17, 2012 |
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Space Shuttle Retirement Processing has continued on Space Shuttle Endeavour inside Orbiter Processing Facility 2 at the Kennedy Space Center. United Space Alliance technicians completed spray painting simulated orbital maneuvering system, or OMS, pods onto space shuttle Endeavour in early July. From July 11 to 13, Endeavour's Replica Shuttle Main Engines were installed on the Orbiter. RSMEs are composed of an originally flown Nozzle but do not include components that aren't visible from the outside like turbo-pump-assemblies, cooling systems and engine controllers. Endeavour's RSMEs were prepared inside the Engine Shop at KSC and were moved - one-by-one - to the OPF for installation. Subsequent operations will include the installation of Main Engine Heat Shields in the Aft of the Shuttle.
Space Shuttle Atlantis is currently in storage inside the Vehicle Assembly Building. In August, the Orbiter will be moved to OPF-2 after Endeavour has completed T&R Processing. Photo Gallery: Endeavour RSME Installation |
Photo: NASA Kennedy
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Atlantis moves to VAB after Replica Engine Installation |
June 29, 2012 |
Photo: NASA Kennedy
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Space Shuttle Atlantis was moved from Orbiter Processing Facility 1 to High Bay 4 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on Friday, June 29, 2012 - vacating OPF-1 earlier than planned because the hangar will be processed and turned over to an unnamed commercial company. The third OPF was handed to Boeing for its CST-100 Spacecraft earlier and the Space Shuttle Orbiters had to share two OPFs for Transition and Retirement Processing. With Discovery at her final Retirement Home, it can be afforded to vacate one OPF since remaining processing on Endeavour and Atlantis can be completed inside OPF-2 without running into timeline problems.
During her final week inside the Orbiter Processing Facility, Space Shuttle Atlantis was fitted with three Replica Shuttle Main Engines. RSMEs are composed of an originally flown Nozzle but do not include components that aren't visible from the outside like turbo-pump-assemblies, cooling systems and engine controllers. |
The RSMEs were prepared inside the Engine Shop at the Kennedy Space Center and have been transferred to the Orbiter Processing Facility for Installation. The Shuttle's actual Main Engines or SSMEs are in storage at NASA's Stennis Space Center for eventual re-use on the Space Launch System. With that step complete, Atlantis is nearly ready for public display, however, there are some more operations that need to be completed. These items will be addressed later, when Atlantis leaves VAB Storage. Atlantis was transferred to the VAB on Friday, starting her short trip in the morning hours - local time, arriving inside the large VAB safe and sound. In preparation for the move, the Orbiter's Payload Bay Doors were closed on June 25.
Space Shuttle Endeavour is continuing her Transition and Retirement Processing flow inside Orbiter Processing Facility 2.
Photo Gallery: Atlantis RSME Installation
Photo Gallery: Payload Bay Door Closure
Photo Gallery: Transfer to VAB
Space Shuttle Endeavour is continuing her Transition and Retirement Processing flow inside Orbiter Processing Facility 2.
Photo Gallery: Atlantis RSME Installation
Photo Gallery: Payload Bay Door Closure
Photo Gallery: Transfer to VAB
Endeavour's Payload Bay closed for the final Time, OMS Installation on Atlantis
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June 21, 2012
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Photo: NASA Kennedy
Photo Gallery: Endeavour Cabin Outfitting
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Photo: NASA Kennedy
Photo Gallery: Endeavour - Final PLB Closure
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The two Space Shuttle Orbiters that are still at the Kennedy Space Center are continuing their respective Transition and Retirement Processes, being prepared to move to their permanent retirement homes later this year.
Inside Orbiter Processing Facility 1, Space Shuttle Atlantis underwent Cabin Outfitting early in June. Technicians outfitted the Commander and Pilot Seats and re-installed the Mission Specialist Seats on the Flight Deck. Also, lockers inside the orbiter’s middeck were re-installed to get the interior of the Orbiter ready for exhibition. In the Week of June 11, engineers started the re-installation process of Atlantis’ OMS Pods. During that week, the left OMS Pod was attached to the Orbiter and the right Pod followed during the week of June 19. The OMS Pods were removed from Atlantis after her final flight to be deserviced at the White Sands Test Facility, New Mexico and sent back to the Kennedy Space Center to be re-installed on the Orbiter. The operation was completed as expected without any technical issues. Atlantis is set for a Rollover to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex later this year and a grand opening of her exhibit in July 2013.
Sitting inside the other Orbiter Processing Facility, Space Shuttle Endeavour is being readied for her Ferry Flight to California in September 2012. All tools and equipment were removed from Endeavour’s Airlock before closing its hatch for the final time in mid-June. Also, Middeck Lockers were re-installed before technicians started the process of closing the vehicle’s Payload Bay for the final time. Endeavour’s Payload Bay Doors were closed one final time on June 19 and technicians inspected the exterior of the doors to make sure they were closed properly. Endeavour is being prepared for public display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.
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Photo Gallery: Atlantis OMS Re-Installation
Photo: NASA Kennedy
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Photo Gallery: Atlantis Cabin Outfitting
Photo: NASA Kennedy
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Enterprise arrives at the Intrepid
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June 7, 2012
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After starting its journey from the National Air and Space Museum's Udvar Hazy Center on April 19, 2012, Space Shuttle Enterprise has finally arrived at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum, New York City after taking a three-day barge trip from JFK to the Intrepid. The trip has left its marks however; Enterprise's right wing has been damaged when the Orbiter scraped along a bridge on the first day of its barge ride. The area was covered with black paint to camouflage the damage. The first day of its trip took Enterprise to Weeks Marine in Jersey City where the Orbiter switched barges for the final leg of its journey that was completed on Wednesday. Enterprise was moved by the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River before arriving at the Intrepid. Shortly after taking is place alongside the retired Aircraft Carrier, preparations to hoist the vehicle onto the museums flight deck began. A second barge that was equipped with a crane was used to lift the Orbiter. The yellow sling system that was used to demate Enterprise from the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft a few weeks earlier, was connected to the orbiter which was then slowly lifted.
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Photo: NASA
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Enterprise was gently lowered onto Intrepid's Flight Deck so that its nose pointed toward the Hudson River. Now, a climate-controlled, steel and fabric shelter will be placed over the Shuttle. This "Space Shuttle Pavilion" is set to open to the public on July 19. The vehicle will be on display at this temporary location until its permanent exhibit facility is ready. Enterprise's final retirement home will be built by the Intrepid to showcase the shuttle and display its other space exhibits. Enterprise was on Display at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum since late 2003 and was replaced by Space Shuttle Discovery in April after she was flown from the Kennedy Space Center to Dulles International Airport. Space Shuttle Enterprise arrived in Washington in November 1985 after completing her tasks as a prototype Orbiter making approach and landing tests in the late 1970s.
Shuttle Enterprise damaged during Transfer to Intrepid
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June 5, 2012
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After beginning its
barge ride from New York's John F. Kennedy (JFK) International
Airport to Bayonne, New Jersey, Space Shuttle Enterprise was damaged during a
collision with the navigation guides for a New York railroad bridge. Being
transported atop an open-air, flat-bed barge, the Orbiter’s right wing was
pushed into the bridge abutment when the wind caught the Shuttle sitting on its
barge while it was making its passage through the railroad bridge only having a
few meters of clearance on each wing tip. The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
released a statement after the incident: "A sudden microburst of wind,
measured at 35 knots, caused the rub panel foam protective layer of the wingtip
of Enterprise to graze the protective wood piling bumpers in the water designed
to bumper vessels." As the right wing scraped along the bridge barrier,
chunks of foam that were covering wingtip broke away from the vehicle. Initial
assessments indicate that the damage is only cosmetic and no flight hardware
was harmed. After the incident, Enterprise continued its voyage arriving at its
New Jersey destination late on Sunday without any further incidents.
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Photo: NASA Kennedy
The Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum
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Originally, the vehicle was
planned to switch barges on Monday and be moved to the Intrepid aboard a barge
with a crane to lift it onto the Aircraft Carrier’s Deck, but uncooperative
weather has delayed the Orbiter’s move. "The planned final leg of the
journey of space shuttle Enterprise to its new home at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space
Museum has been postponed due to
inclement weather which is delaying the prep work necessary to ferry and crane
the shuttle to its final destination," the Intrepid’s statement said.
"A new moving date has been tentatively set for Wednesday, June 6." Once
sitting beside the Aircraft Carrier, a crane will be used to lift the Orbiter
off the barge and onto the flight deck. There, a climate-controlled steel and
fabric structure will be placed over Enterprise. This "Space Shuttle
Pavilion" will open to the public in July and will be a permanent home for
Enterprise until a final display home can be built.
Explorer departs KSC; Enterprise ready for Barge Ride
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June 1, 2012
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Photo: NASA Kennedy
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As Space Shuttle Transition and Retirement Processing continues, the Explorer high-fidelity Orbiter Replica has departed the Kennedy Space Center on a barge to set sail for its new home, the Space Center Houston, the visitor center for NASA's Johnson Space Center. After 18 years at the KSC Visitor Complex, Explorer had to make room for the new facility to display Space Shuttle Atlantis. The vehicle boarded the barge on May 24 and started a 8-day journey around the Florida peninsula and through the Gulf of Mexico for an arrival in Clear Lake, Texas. After the replica arrives, a "Shuttlebration Weekend" will kick off as the vehicle is loaded onto a transporter on Saturday and will make its trek down NASA Road 1 to Space Center Houston. The replica will eventually become the centerpiece of an exhibition about the retired space shuttle program. A naming contest will be held to find a new name for the replica once arriving at its new home.
The next Shuttle to take a barge ride is Enterprise that is still waiting at the John F. Kennedy Airport, New York City after being moved from the Smithsonian to Dulles International Airport for a ride atop the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on April 27 delivering the Orbiter to NYC. |
On May 13, Enterprise was demated and was moved to a open-air hangar to wait for the final leg of the trip to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum - Enterprise's new home. Being placed atop a barge, Enterprise will be moved to Port Elizabeth in New Jersey on Sunday, June 3. On June 5, Enterprise will resume its barge ride taking it by the Statue of Liberty and up the Hudson River to arrive at the Intrepid. Once sitting beside the Aircraft Carrier, a crane will be used to lift the Orbiter off the barge and onto the flight deck. There, a climate-controlled steel and fabric structure will be placed over Enterprise. This "Space Shuttle Pavilion" will open to the public in July and will be a permanent home for Enterprise until a final display home can be built.
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Inside Orbiter Processing Facility-2 at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, Space Shuttle Endeavour is continuing Transition and Retirement Processing to prepare the vehicle for its Ferry Flight later this year taking the Orbiter to the California Science Center to permanent display. Late in May, technicians started to remove Endeavour's Fuel Cells that were used to generate electrical power when the vehicle was in orbit. All three of Endeavour's fuel cells were removed and are being drained of fluids. Inside the Vehicle Assembly Building, the Tail Cone that will be used on Endeavour's final Ferry Flight was being integrated and readied over the course of May.
Space Shuttle Atlantis is being prepared for Rollover to the Kennedy Space Center later this year inside Orbiter Processing Facility 1. The Forward Reaction Control System was re-installed on the Orbiter on May 29, 2012. The FRCS was deserviced at the White Sands Test Facility, New Mexico and sent back to the Kennedy Space Center to be re-installed on the Orbiter. The operation was completed as expected without any technical issues. |
Photo: NASA Kennedy
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Photos: Explorer Departs KSC
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Photos: Atlantis FRCS Re-Installation
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Photos: Endeavour Fuel Cell Removal
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Endeavour's Final Power-Down; Enterprise Demate at JFK
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May 16, 2012
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Inside Orbiter Processing Facility 2 at the Kennedy Space Center, Space Shuttle Endeavour was powered down for the final time on Friday, May 11, 2012. At 13:58 GMT, Endeavour's Systems were switched off for all eternity. One by one, flight deck switches and displays were turned off by spacecraft operators inside the crew module and finally, the lights on the flight deck went out for good. "After working so many years -- since 1988 -- on these vehicles, it's a little hard to say, 'I'm taking my best car and I'm going to not drive it anymore. In fact, I'm going to go ahead and fix it so it can't ever crank anymore,'" said United Space Alliance's Walter McKenzie. "The realization really hits you when you're powering down a vehicle for the last time." Before Endeavour was powered down, the Ku-Band Communications Antenna was stowed for the final time last week. Endeavour was the final Space Shuttle to be powered down after Atlantis and Discovery underwent final power-downs in December 2011.
Inside Orbiter Processing Facility 1, Space Shuttle Atlantis is continuing her Transition and Retirement Processing. |
Photo: NASA Kennedy
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Technicians are still working in the Aft Section of the Orbiter to remove Main Propulsion System Components. Liquid Hydrogen Feedlines have been removed over the course of the week. These components will be stored for potential use on NASA's Space Launch System. Both, Atlantis and Endeavour, are set to travel to their final Retirement Homes, the California Science Center and the Kennedy Space Center, later this year.
Photo: NASA
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After being delivered to New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport on April 27 and waiting for two weeks inside a hangar, Space Shuttle Enterprise was demated from the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft on Saturday, May 13. Operations were in progress overnight and finished early Sunday morning, local time.
To Demate Enterprise, a 90 by 90-meter area was required plus 125 meters behind the SCA to back it out after the Orbiter was removed. A dual-crane system and a wind-restraint assembly was used to gently lift the Orbiter to enable the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft to back up. Enterprise was attached to an Orbiter Sling System which was being held by the cranes. The Wind restraint system provided a fixed attachment to the ground to keep the complex stabilized while Enterprise was attached to the Sling System. Four masts were part of the restraint. After the plane was removed by pushing it back to its pullback position, Enterprise was lowered onto a transporter. The sling was disconnected to complete the operation. |
At the Airport, the System had been put in place over the past several weeks after the hardware was transported from Dulles International airport to New York JFK after Discovery was demated and Enterprise was mated to the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft at Dulles. Preparations for the Mate/Demate included drilling several holes in the concrete that were needed for ground attachment of the Wind Restraint System.
Enterprise will be placed on a barge that will be moved by tugboat up the Hudson River to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in June. There, the prototype Orbiter will be on display at a temporary location until its permanent exhibit facility is ready.
Photo Gallery: Enterprise Demate at JFK
Enterprise will be placed on a barge that will be moved by tugboat up the Hudson River to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in June. There, the prototype Orbiter will be on display at a temporary location until its permanent exhibit facility is ready.
Photo Gallery: Enterprise Demate at JFK
Atlantis & Endeavour undergoing MPS Component Removal
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May 9, 2012
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Photo: NASA Kennedy
A look inside Shuttle Atlantis (MPS Components)
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Space
Shuttle Retirement Operations are progressing inside Kennedy Space Center’s
Orbiter Processing Facility where Atlantis and Endeavour are being readied for
going on permanent display later this year.
Inside OPF-1, the Windows on Space Shuttle Atlantis are being removed for thorough inspections before being re-installed on the Orbiter. Also, Main Propulsion System component removals are continuing in the aft section of the Shuttle. Technicians are in the process of removing Liquid Hydrogen Fuel Lines that were used to supply the three main engines with fuel during powered flight. These components are put in storage for possible re-use on NASA’s Space Launch System. Atlantis is set for a Rollover to the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex later this year and a grand opening of her exhibit in July 2013. Space Shuttle Endeavour is inside Orbiter Processing Facility 2 where Transition and Retirement Operations are continuing. Main Propulsion System component removals are also in progress in Endeavour’s aft section. In addition to that, the hypergolic fuel system of the Orbiter is being deserviced and cleaned at this time to make sure no toxic substances remain inside the system to set the stage for public display. Endeavour is being prepared for public display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles. |
Shuttle Enterprise completes Ferry Flight to New York
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April 27, 2012
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Photo: NASA
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26 years and 5 months after making her last flight, Space Shuttle Enterprise completed her final journey aboard the NASA 905 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft today, being transferred from Dulles International Airport to New York's John F. Kennedy Airport.
The Ferry Flight was delayed over the course of the week due to unfavorable weather conditions until the Flight Readiness Review on Thursday cleared the way for takeoff on Friday. Under the control of Pilot Bill Rieke, the modified Boeing 747's Engines soared to life at around 13:00 GMT and started taxiing to Runway 30 at Dulles International. Takeoff occurred at 13:39 GMT and Enterprise started her final Flight. Flying about 150 Kilometers in front of the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, was the C-9 Pathfinder to provide Weather Updates for the crew aboard the SCA. After arriving in the New York metropolitan area at around 14.30 GMT, Enterprise and its Carrier Aircraft started a series of Flyovers of several landmarks including the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum and the Statue of Liberty. |
While the 747 was flying over New York, a T-38 jet was right next to the SCA to acquire aerial footage of the flight. The exact route of the SCA had not been published in advance since it depended on weather conditions and operational constraints. Many spectators gathered at the Intrepid and JFK Airport to welcome Enterprise at her new home. Flyovers concluded after 30 Minutes and the SCA started its approach for landing on Runway 31L, the longest Runway at John F. Kennedy Airport. Touchdown was at around 15:22 GMT and the Shuttle carrier Aircraft rolled to its parking spot. Today's Ferry Flight was 1 Hour and 43 Minutes in duration.
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Enterprise will remain installed on the modified Boeing 747 for several weeks until the portable Mate-Demate-Assembly is set up at the Airport.
For more information on the assembly, see our Shuttle Retirement Updates (2) Site. Once Enterprise has been removed from the Aircraft, she will be placed on a barge that will be moved by tugboat up the Hudson River to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in June. There, the prototype Orbiter will be on display at a temporary location until its permanent exhibit facility is ready. Enterprise was on Display at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum since late 2003 and was replaced by Space Shuttle Discovery last week after she was flown from the Kennedy Space Center to Dulles. Space Shuttle Enterprise arrived in Washington in November 1985 after completing her tasks as a prototype Orbiter making approach and landing tests in the late 1970s. |
Photo: NASA
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Photo: NASA
Photo Gallery: Enterprise Ferry Flight
Enterprise ready for Ferry Flight
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April 26, 2012
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Space Shuttle Enterprise is getting ready to depart Dulles International Airport atop the NASA 905 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft to set sail for New York City and the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. The Ferry Flight is planned to occur on Friday, April 27 between 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. local time (13:30-15:30 GMT) after today's Flight Readiness Review gave a GO to proceed with Ferry Operations - pending favorable weather conditions. Enterprise was installed atop the SCA last week after Shuttle Discovery arrived at Enterprise's former home, the Smithsonian's Air and Space Museum - Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. The flight was on hold due to unfavorable weather conditions for several days. Managers are working closely with Meteorologists and will make a final decision shortly before the flight.
Taking off from Dulles, the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft will fly to New York where it will conduct flyovers of various parts of the New York City metropolitan area including the Statue of Liberty and Intrepid. |
Photo: NASA
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When flyovers are complete, the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft with Enterprise will land at John F. Kennedy (JFK) International Airport.
After the arrival, Enterprise will remain installed on the modified Boeing 747 for several weeks until the portable Mate-Demate-Assembly is set up at the Airport. For more information on the assembly, see our Shuttle Retirement Updates (2) Site. Once Enterprise has been removed from the Aircraft, she will be placed on a barge that will be moved by tugboat up the Hudson River to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in June. There, the prototype Orbiter will be on display at a temporary location until its permanent exhibit facility is ready.
After the arrival, Enterprise will remain installed on the modified Boeing 747 for several weeks until the portable Mate-Demate-Assembly is set up at the Airport. For more information on the assembly, see our Shuttle Retirement Updates (2) Site. Once Enterprise has been removed from the Aircraft, she will be placed on a barge that will be moved by tugboat up the Hudson River to the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum in June. There, the prototype Orbiter will be on display at a temporary location until its permanent exhibit facility is ready.
Enterprise attached to SCA; Endeavour's Airlock removed
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April 20, 2012
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Photo: NASA Kennedy
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While Space Shuttle Discovery was handed over to the Smithsonian Institution after completing her Ferry Flight from the Kennedy Space Center to Dulles International Airport (see our previous Shuttle Retirement Updates), the other two Orbiters are continuing their Transition and Retirement Processing inside the Orbiter Processing Facility at KSC.
Space Shuttle Endeavour's Airlock was removed on April 19, 2012. The Airlock Section was detached from the Orbiter and lifted out of the Payload Bay using a crane system. Tile Bonding has also been in progress and was conducted by United Space Alliance Technicians working on Forward Reaction Control System Access Doors and the right wing of the Orbiter. Space Shuttle Atlantis remains inside Orbiter Processing Facility 1 where technicians are continuing Retirement Processing in Preparation for Rollover to the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Center later this year. Photo Gallery: Endeavour T&R Airlock Removal |
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In Virginia, Discovery has arrived at her final resting place inside the Space Hanger at the Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum - Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center. Discovery was welcomed during a ceremony yesterday and was placed Nose-to-Nose with Space Shuttle Enterprise for the afternoon. After the day's events concluded, Discovery was moved inside the Hangar while Enterprise was rolled to Dulles International Airport where technicians worked overnight to install Enterprise atop the NASA 905 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft. For that, the Mate-Demate-System that was put in place at Apron W for Discovery's arrival was used in a reverse procedure to attach Enterprise on the SCA. The prototype Shuttle was attached to the Sling System and gently raised before the landing gear was retracted. Afterwards, the Shuttle was raised further and the 747 pulled in underneath it. Being positioned accurately, Enterprise was attached on three attach-points on top of the Boeing Airplane. Enterprise was inspected and prepared for the ferry flight over several months, installing equipment that is required for a safe ferry such as the Tailcone and Attach Points.
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Photo: NASA
Photo Gallery: Enterprise Mating to SCA
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Once a soft-mate was established, the Sling was detached from the stack and the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft placed in a parking position where remaining work will be completed. At 6:45am local time, the operation was completed. The mating procedure was conducted overnight to take advantage of calm winds at the Airport. On Saturday, a hard-mate between the 747 and Enterprise will be established. The Ferry Flight was originally planned to take off from Dulles International on Monday, April 23, but has been delayed until further notice due to an unfavorable weather forecast. As Ferry Operations depend on Weather Conditions, the team is working closely with Meteorologists as Takeoff approaches. The Shuttle Carrier Aircraft will fly Enterprise to New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport where the combined vehicle will wait several weeks before being demated. Enterprise is set for a barge ride in June to be delivered to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Exact dates for operations taking place in New York have not been published.
