Editing Space Shuttle Endeavour (section)

=== 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>