Editing Space Shuttle Endeavour (section)

== Service ==
On its first mission, it captured and redeployed the stranded ''[[Intelsat]] VI'' communications satellite. The first African-American woman astronaut, [[Mae Jemison]], was launched into space on the mission [[STS-47]] on September 12, 1992.

''Endeavour'' flew the first servicing mission [[STS-61]] for the [[Hubble Space Telescope]] in 1993. In 1997 it was withdrawn from service for eight months for a retrofit, including installation of a new airlock. In December 1998, it delivered the [[Unity (ISS module)|Unity Module]] to the [[International Space Station]].

''Endeavour''{{'}}s last Orbiter Major Modification period began in December 2003 and ended on October 6, 2005. During this time, ''Endeavour'' received major hardware upgrades, including a new, multi-functional, electronic display system, often referred to as a [[glass cockpit]], and an advanced [[Global Positioning System|GPS]] receiver, along with safety upgrades recommended by the [[Columbia Accident Investigation Board|''Columbia'' Accident Investigation Board]] (CAIB) for the shuttle's return to flight following the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|loss of]] [[Space Shuttle Columbia|''Columbia'']] during reentry on February 1, 2003.

The [[STS-118]] mission, ''Endeavour''{{'}}s first since the refit, included astronaut [[Barbara Morgan]], formerly assigned to the [[Teacher in Space project]], and later a member of the Astronaut Corps from 1998 to 2008, as part of the crew. Morgan was the backup for [[Christa McAuliffe]] who was on the ill-fated mission [[STS-51-L]] in 1986.

=== Early milestones ===
{| class="wikitable"
! style="background:#efefef;" | Date
! style="background:#efefef;" | Milestone<ref>{{Cite web |title=Shuttle Orbiter ''Endeavour'' (OV-105) |url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/endeavour.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501130312/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/endeavour.html |archive-date=May 1, 2011 |access-date=November 28, 2012 |publisher=NASA/KSC}}</ref>
|-
| 1982 February 15
| Start structural assembly of crew module (built as structural spare alongside ''Discovery'' and ''Atlantis'')<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marconi |first=Elaine |title=NASA – Space Shuttle Overview: Endeavour (OV-105) |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/endeavour-info.html |website=www.nasa.gov |access-date=March 12, 2008 |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>
|-
| 1987 July 31
| Contract award to [[Rockwell International]]
|-
| 1987 August 1
| Start of Final Assembly
|-
| 1987 September 28
| Start structural assembly of aft fuselage
|-
| 1990 July 6
| Completed Final Assembly
|-
| 1991 April 25
| Rollout from Plant 42, Palmdale, California
|-
| 1991 May 7
| Delivery to Kennedy Space Center
|-
| 1992 April 6
| Flight Readiness Firing (FRF)
|-
| 1992 May 7
| First flight ([[STS-49]])
|}

=== Upgrades and features ===
[[File:Space Shuttle Transit.jpg|thumb|''Endeavour'' mounted on a [[Shuttle Carrier Aircraft]]]]
[[File:STS-130 Endeavour Rollout 6.jpg|thumb|''Endeavour'' approaches LC-39A before STS-130]]
[[File:STS-126 Endeavour atop carrier aircraft.jpg|thumb|''Endeavour'' in flight en route back to the [[Kennedy Space Center]] atop a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft in 2008]]
[[File:Space Shuttle Endeavour Lands at the Kennedy Space Center on July 31st, 2009..jpg|thumb|''Endeavour'' lands after [[STS-127]] at the [[Kennedy Space Center]] [[Shuttle Landing Facility]]]]

As it was constructed later than its elder sisters, ''Endeavour'' was built with new hardware designed to improve and expand orbiter capabilities. Most of this equipment was later incorporated into the other three orbiters during out-of-service major inspection and modification programs. ''Endeavour''{{'}}s upgrades include:
* A {{convert|40|ft|m|adj=on}} diameter [[drag chute]] that reduced the orbiter's landing roll-out distance (the runway length used for deceleration) from {{convert|3000|ft|m}} to {{convert|2000|ft|m}}.
* The plumbing and electrical connections needed for [[Extended Duration Orbiter]] (EDO) modifications to allow up to a 28-day mission (although a 28-day mission was never attempted; the record is [[STS-80|17 days]], which was set by ''[[Space Shuttle Columbia|Columbia]]'').
* Updated avionics systems that included advanced [[general purpose computer]]s, improved [[inertial measurement unit]]s and [[tactical air navigation]] systems, enhanced master events controllers and multiplexer-demultiplexers, a solid-state [[star tracker]] and improved nose wheel steering mechanisms.
* An improved version of the [[Auxiliary Power Unit]]s (APUs) that provided power to operate the Shuttle's hydraulic systems.

Modifications resulting from a 2005–2006 refit of ''Endeavour'' included:
* The ''[[Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System]]'' (SSPTS), which converted 8 kilowatts of DC power from the ISS main voltage of 120VDC to the orbiter bus voltage of 28VDC. This upgrade allowed ''Endeavour'' to remain on-orbit while docked at ISS for an additional 3- to 4-day duration. The corresponding power equipment was added to the ISS during the [[STS-116]] station assembly mission, and ''Endeavour'' flew with SSPTS capability during [[STS-118]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Vehicle Upgrades: Station-Shuttle Power Transfer System (SSPTS) |url=http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/returntoflight/vehicleupgrades/sspts.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070318231812/http://www.boeing.com/defense-space/space/returntoflight/vehicleupgrades/sspts.html |archive-date=March 18, 2007 |publisher=Boeing: Integrated Defense Systems}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 26, 2003 |title=NASA Presolicitation Notice: Station-Shuttle Power Transfer System (SSPTS) |url=http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=10776 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120703155317/http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=10776 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 3, 2012 |access-date=June 30, 2011 |publisher=NASA }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=December 2, 2005 |title=NASA's Space Shuttle Processing Status Report: S05-034 |url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2005/dec/HQ_S05034_shuttle_status.html |publisher=NASA |access-date=September 14, 2006 |archive-date=December 8, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071208185057/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2005/dec/HQ_S05034_shuttle_status.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Final flights ===
[[File:Platforms Around Endeavour In Orbiter Processing Facility-2.jpg|thumb|Platforms around ''Endeavour'' in the [[Orbiter Processing Facility]]-2]]
[[File:Endeavour docked to ISS.jpg|thumb|''Endeavour'' (left) docked to the [[International Space Station]] on May 23, 2011, during its final mission]]
''Endeavour'' flew its final mission, STS-134, to the [[International Space Station]] (ISS) in May 2011. After the conclusion of STS-134, ''Endeavour'' was formally decommissioned.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 30, 2014 |title=OV-105 "Endeavour" |url=http://californiasciencecenter.org/exhibits/air-space/space-shuttle-endeavour/ov-105-endeavour |access-date=September 12, 2016 |website=California Science Center |language=en-US}}</ref>

STS-134 was intended to launch in late 2010, but on July 1 NASA released a statement saying the ''Endeavour'' mission was rescheduled for February 27, 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 1, 2010 |title=NASA Updates Shuttle Target Launch Dates For Final Two Flights |url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/jul/HQ_10-157_STS_Launch_Dates.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120612111532/http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2010/jul/HQ_10-157_STS_Launch_Dates.html |archive-date=June 12, 2012 |access-date=May 20, 2012 |website=NASA}}</ref>

"The target dates were adjusted because critical payload hardware for STS-133 will not be ready in time to support the previously planned 16 September launch," NASA said in a statement. With the ''Discovery'' launch moving to November, ''Endeavour'' mission "cannot fly as planned, so the next available launch window is in February 2011," NASA said, adding that the launch dates were subject to change.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 1, 2010 |title=NASA reschedules two final space shuttle launches |url=http://www.space-travel.com/reports/NASA_reschedules_two_final_space_shuttle_launches_999.html |access-date=November 20, 2016 |website=Space Travel}}</ref>

The launch was further postponed until April to avoid a scheduling conflict with a Russian supply vehicle heading for the International Space Station.<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 4, 2011 |title=Unmanned Russian cargo ship heads for space station |url=http://articles.cnn.com/2011-04-04/us/shuttle.endeavor.delay_1_russian-cargo-ship-international-space-station-insulation-foam?_s=PM:US |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120114205123/http://articles.cnn.com/2011-04-04/us/shuttle.endeavor.delay_1_russian-cargo-ship-international-space-station-insulation-foam?_s=PM:US |archive-date=January 14, 2012 |work=CNN}}</ref> STS-134 did not launch until May 16 at 08:56 [[Eastern Time Zone|EDT]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=STS-134 |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts134/main/index.html |access-date=May 20, 2012 |publisher=NASA}}</ref>

''Endeavour'' landed at the [[Kennedy Space Center]] at 06:34 [[Coordinated universal time|UTC]] on June 1, 2011, completing its final mission.<ref name="finallanding">{{Cite news |date=June 1, 2011 |title=Endeavour completes final mission; one flight left for NASA |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 3, 2011 |work=CNN}}</ref> It was the 25th night landing of a shuttle.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Dunn |first=Marcia |date=May 31, 2011 |title=Endeavour's last landing sparks pride and sadness |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/43228059 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131209163147/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/43228059/ |archive-date=December 9, 2013 |access-date=May 20, 2012 |work=NBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Harwood, William |date=June 1, 2011 |title=Endeavour ends final mission with smooth landing; The Space Shot |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-19514_3-20067830-239.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200326033405/https://www.cnet.com/19514_3-20067830-239.html |archive-date=March 26, 2020 |access-date=May 20, 2012 |work=CNET News}}</ref> Over its flight career, ''Endeavour'' flew {{convert|122,883,151|mi|km}} and spent 299 days in space.<ref>{{Citation |title=Space Shuttle Era Facts |date=July 5, 2011 |work=NASA |url=https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/566250main_2011.07.05%20SHUTTLE%20ERA%20FACTS.pdf |access-date=August 2, 2016 |archive-date=July 14, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190714112826/https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/566250main_2011.07.05%20SHUTTLE%20ERA%20FACTS.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> During ''Endeavour's'' last mission, the Russian spacecraft Soyuz TMA-20 departed from the ISS and paused at a distance of {{convert|200|m}}. Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli took a series of photographs and videos of the ISS with ''Endeavour'' docked.<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 23, 2011 |title=Soyuz TMA-20 captures historic photography prior to perfect landing |url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/05/soyuz-tma-20-historic-photographic-event-landing/ |access-date=October 12, 2012 |website=NASASpaceFlight}}</ref> This was the second time a shuttle was photographed docked and the first time since 1996. Commander [[Mark Kelly]] was the last astronaut off ''Endeavour'' after the landing, and the crew stayed on the landing strip to sign autographs and pose for pictures.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 1, 2011 |title=Next-to-last space shuttle flight lands on Earth |url=https://www.deseret.com/2011/6/1/20195388/next-to-last-space-shuttle-flight-lands-on-earth |access-date=February 9, 2023 |publisher=Deseret News}}</ref>

STS-134 was the penultimate Space Shuttle mission; [[STS-135]] was added to the schedule in January 2011, and in July ''Atlantis'' flew for the final time.<ref>{{Cite web |date=July 27, 2011 |title=STS-135: The Final Voyage |url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts135/launch/sts-135_mission-overview.html |access-date=February 3, 2017 |website=NASA |archive-date=July 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190727080027/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts135/launch/sts-135_mission-overview.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>