Editing Space Shuttle Endeavour (section)

{{Short description|Space Shuttle orbiter (1992–2011)}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2024}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Italic title|string=Endeavour}}
{{Infobox individual space vehicle
| name = ''Endeavour''
| image = STS-123 Dextre&Kibo ELM-PS in orbit (cropped).jpg
| image_alt = Top view of a spaceplane above the Earth.
| caption = ''Endeavour'' in orbit in 2008, during STS-123
| type = [[Spaceplane]]
| class = [[Space Shuttle orbiter]]
| serial = OV-105
| eponym = {{HMS|Endeavour}}
| owner = [[NASA]]
| manufacturer = [[Rockwell International]]
| dimensions =
| dry_mass = {{Convert|78000|kg}}
| communciation =
| power =
| rocket = [[Space Shuttle]]
| first_flight_date = May 7 – 16, 1992
| first_flight = [[STS-49]]
| last_flight_date  = May 16 – June 1, 2011
| last_flight = [[STS-134]]
| flights = 25
| time = 7,179 hours
| travelled = {{Convert|197761262|km}} around Earth
| orbits = 4,671 around Earth
| fate = [[Space Shuttle retirement|Retired]]
| location = {{Ubl|[[California Science Center]]|[[Los Angeles, California]]}}
| previous = ''[[Space Shuttle Atlantis|Atlantis]]''
}}
'''Space Shuttle ''Endeavour''''' ([[Orbiter Vehicle Designation]]: '''OV-105''') is a retired [[Space Shuttle orbiter|orbiter]] from [[NASA]]'s [[Space Shuttle program]] and the fifth and final operational [[Space Shuttle|Shuttle]] built. It embarked on its first mission, [[STS-49]], in May 1992 and its 25th and final mission, [[STS-134]], in May 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Space Shuttle Overview: Endeavour (OV-105) |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/endeavour-info.html |access-date=June 30, 2011 |publisher=NASA |archive-date=February 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200222025959/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/endeavour-info.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=STS-49 |url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-49/mission-sts-49.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130217182153/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/missions/sts-49/mission-sts-49.html |archive-date=February 17, 2013 |access-date=June 30, 2011 |publisher=NASA KSC}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=June 1, 2011 |title=Endeavour completes final mission; NASA has one left |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/06/01/nasa.endeavour.lands/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114180839/http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/06/01/nasa.endeavour.lands/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=January 14, 2012 |access-date=June 1, 2011 |work=CNN}}</ref> STS-134 was expected to be the final mission of the Space Shuttle program,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Consolidated Launch Manifest |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html |access-date=June 30, 2011 |publisher=NASA |archive-date=March 7, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307191348/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> but with the authorization of [[STS-135]] by the [[United States Congress]], [[Space Shuttle Atlantis|''Atlantis'']] became the last shuttle to fly.

The [[United States Congress]] approved the construction of ''Endeavour'' in 1987 to replace the [[Space Shuttle Challenger|Space Shuttle ''Challenger'']], which was [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|destroyed in 1986]].

NASA chose, on cost grounds, to build much of ''Endeavour'' from spare parts rather than refitting the [[Space Shuttle Enterprise|Space Shuttle ''Enterprise'']], and used structural spares built during the construction of ''[[Space Shuttle Discovery|Discovery]]'' and [[Space Shuttle Atlantis|''Atlantis'']] in its assembly.

The space shuttle will soon{{when?|date=January 2025}} be on display in the upcoming Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center at the [[California Science Center]].