STS-123

STS-123
Name	STS-123
Mission type	International Space Station assembly
Operator	NASA
Cospar id	2008-004A
Satcat	32486
Mission duration	15 days, 18 hours, 10 minutes, 50 seconds
Launch date	March 11, 2008
Launch site	Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A
Landing date	March 26, 2008
Landing site	Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility
Orbit	Low Earth orbit
Apsis	gee

STS-123 was a crewed Space Shuttle mission conducted by NASA in March 2008 that delivered critical components to the International Space Station assembly sequence. The flight carried both Japanese and Canadian hardware and included multiple spacewalks and robotic operations to integrate the delivered elements with the Zvezda-era configuration of the station. Launched from Kennedy Space Center aboard Space Shuttle Endeavour, the mission supported international partners including the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.

Mission overview

The mission objectives focused on delivering the Japanese Experimental Module's logistics element and the Canadian robotic arm segment for the International Space Station program. Primary goals included installation of the JEM logistics module and activation of the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator arm, tasks coordinated with Expedition 16 flight engineers and planners from Johnson Space Center and European Space Agency mission control teams. The flight contributed to ongoing assembly flights following earlier missions such as STS-115 and STS-120, and preceded logistics operations later executed on STS-124 and STS-126.

Crew

The seven-person crew combined veteran NASA astronauts and mission specialists with international flight engineers. The commander was a seasoned Shuttle pilot with previous flights alongside crew members linked to STS-100 and STS-111 veterans. Included were specialists trained for Extravehicular activity support, robotics operators familiar with the Canadarm2 and the Mobile Base System, and liaisons for JAXA and CSA payload operation. The crew coordinated closely with long-duration station residents from Expedition 16 and command teams at Mission Control Center in Houston.

Payload and cargo

Primary payloads comprised the Japanese Experiment Module's Logistics Module Pressurized Section (JLP) and the Canadian Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator arm (SPDM), complementing the existing Canadarm2 architecture. Additional cargo included spare flight replacement units, scientific racks for Kibo, and external hardware such as brackets and truss attach fixtures used with the Integrated Truss Structure delivered on earlier Shuttle flights like STS-117 and STS-119. The cargo manifest also listed EVA tools, batteries, and logistics bags supporting Expedition 16 research and station maintenance.

Mission timeline

Following checkout and a multi-day on-orbit phase, the crew executed a series of robotic operations and spacewalks to berth and activate the JLP and to install the SPDM on the station's S-Zero or compatible stowage interface. The mission timeline included rendezvous and docking with the Pressurized Mating Adapter, multiple orbital maneuvering burns, and coordination with ground teams at Tsukuba Space Center and Saint-Hubert for payload operations. Final days were devoted to stowage consolidation, payload transfers, and preparations for undocking and reentry.

Launch and ascent

Endeavour lifted off from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A following countdown activities coordinated by Launch Control Center crews and contractors from United Space Alliance. The ascent profile used the Space Shuttle Main Engine cluster and solid rocket boosters with staging events and an orbital insertion burn by the Orbital Maneuvering System. During ascent, telemetry was monitored by teams at White Sands and Johnson Space Center, and contingency procedures referenced historical abort modes developed after flights including STS-51-L and manifest adjustments since Columbia (OV-102).

On-orbit operations

Once docked to the Unity (Node 1) or compatible interface, crew members used the station's robotic assets including Canadarm2 and the newly delivered SPDM to manipulate the JLP into its berthing port. Assigned EVAs handled external connection tasks, electrical hookups, and installation of grapple fixtures comparable to activities on STS-97 and STS-114. Payload activation required coordination with JAXA engineers for Kibo systems checkout and with CSA specialists for SPDM commissioning. Crewmembers also conducted microgravity experiments supported by Expedition 16 researchers and transferred logistics to station racks like Destiny and Kibo laboratory modules.

Landing and post-mission analysis

After completing planned operations, the crew undocked and performed flyaround photography of the International Space Station to document assembly interfaces and hardware condition, a practice consistent with prior return sequences from STS-105 and STS-119. Reentry and landing were conducted at the Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility, followed by post-flight vehicle inspections by teams from Johnson Space Center, United Space Alliance, and Orbital Sciences contractors. Post-mission analysis evaluated SPDM performance and JLP integration, informing forthcoming assembly flights and long-duration research operations under Expedition 17 and later Expedition 18 activities.

Category:Space Shuttle missions Category:Spacecraft launched in 2008