STS-127

STS-127
NASA · Public domain · source
Name	Endeavour
Mission	STS-127
Operator	National Aeronautics and Space Administration
COSPAR	2009-047A
Launch date	July 15, 2009
Launch site	Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39
Landing date	July 31, 2009
Landing site	Edwards Air Force Base

STS-127

STS-127 was a Space Shuttle mission conducted by Space Shuttle Endeavour in July 2009 to deliver and install components to the International Space Station as part of ongoing assembly and logistics operations supported by NASA, the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and international partners. The mission involved a multinational crew, multiple extravehicular activitys, and the installation of the Japanese Experiment Module logistics module and the Kibo Exposed Facility logistics carrier, contributing to research infrastructure for ISS operations and long-duration expeditions.

Mission overview

The flight supported final assembly tasks for the International Space Station during Expedition 18, 19, and 20 expeditions, carrying critical external hardware intended for the Kibo laboratory developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency. Objectives included installation of the Kibo Exposed Facility, transfer of logistics to the Harmony (Node 2), and outfitting for experiments associated with the Columbus (ISS module) research complement. The mission integrated coordination among Mission Control Center (Houston), Tsukuba Space Center, and the Russian Mission Control Center at Korolyov, Moscow Oblast.

Crew

The seven-person crew combined veteran astronauts and mission specialists from multinational backgrounds. The commander was a seasoned NASA aviator who had previous shuttle command experience supporting STS-121 and other assembly flights; the pilot brought prior flight time from STS-120; mission specialists included representatives experienced with Canadarm2 operations, robotic arm manipulation originally developed with partners at the Canadian Space Agency, plus a Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency flight engineer responsible for the Kibo payload integration. Crew activities intersected with the responsibilities of Expedition crewmembers such as Peggy Whitson, Koichi Wakata, and Fyodor Yurchikhin aboard the ISS.

Spacecraft and payload

Endeavour carried the Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility, the Kibo Logistics Module Pressurized Section, and the Exposed Facility Logistics Carrier hosting experiments and payloads supplied by JAXA and international investigators. Additional payloads included spare components for Solar Alpha Rotary Joint maintenance, replacement batteries, and surface fixtures intended for external science operations similar to those conducted from the Columbus and Destiny (ISS module). The orbiter's payload bay also accommodated the Space Station Remote Manipulator System interface hardware for use with Canadarm2 and the Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator adjunct developments worked on by the Canadian Space Agency.

Mission timeline

Launch operations originated from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 with a nighttime liftoff window in July 2009, following standard prelaunch processing at the Vehicle Assembly Building and integrated testing at Michoud Assembly Facility derivatives. After rendezvous and berthing with the International Space Station using orbital maneuvering and rendezvous profile procedures established by Mission Control Center (Houston), the crew executed unloading and attachment sequences coordinated with Expedition crew members such as those from Expedition 19 and Expedition 20. Throughout the mission, flight controllers in Houston and representatives from JAXA managed robotic operations, while monitoring by the European Space Agency and Russian Federal Space Agency provided cross-agency situational awareness. After completing transfers and EVA tasks, Endeavour performed undocking, deorbit burn, and atmospheric reentry culminating in an Edwards Air Force Base landing after diverting from the primary return site at Kennedy Space Center due to weather considerations.

Extravehicular activities

The mission included multiple planned extravehicular activities oriented toward installation and outfitting of the Kibo Exposed Facility and external experiments. EVA teams executed hardware attachment, cable routing, and grapple fixture installation working from the station's exterior outfitted with handrails and interfaces derived from ongoing ISS assembly standards. The spacewalkers used suits and life-support systems maintained by NASA flight support teams, coordinating with internal crew members who operated Canadarm2 to position payloads and assister platforms used in the EVAs. Tasks also required contingency troubleshooting for latches and thermal covers, with procedures verified through training at the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory and simulations supported by the Johnson Space Center.

Mission patch and insignia

The mission insignia featured symbolic elements referencing the delivery of the Kibo payload and Endeavour's role in International Space Station assembly. Design elements incorporated imagery honoring the collaboration among NASA, JAXA, and the Canadian Space Agency, and recognized the continuity of shuttle assembly missions dating back to STS-1 and the development lineage through flights such as STS-88 and STS-120. The patch was authorized by mission leadership and produced under the heraldic traditions preserved for crewed Space Shuttle flights.

Legacy and significance

This assembly flight advanced utilization of the Kibo laboratory enabling experiments in materials science, biology, and Earth observation linked to investigators at institutions including University of Tokyo, JAXA research centers, and partner laboratories across Europe and Canada. The success of the mission contributed to operational lessons for subsequent orbital complex maintenance, informed procedures later referenced by commercial crew and cargo programs like SpaceX and Orbital Sciences Corporation, and reinforced international cooperation exemplified by protocols negotiated under agreements with the Intergovernmental Agreement on Space Station Cooperation. The flight's outcomes supported scientific output during subsequent Expeditions and continued the narrative of assembly achievements culminating in the full-operation period of the International Space Station.

Category:Space Shuttle missions Category:2009 in spaceflight