STS-134
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| STS-134 | |
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 NASA/Paolo Nespoli · Public domain · source | |
| Name | STS-134 |
| Mission type | Space Shuttle mission |
| Operator | NASA |
| Cospar id | 2011-011A |
| Satcat | 37316 |
| Spacecraft | Endeavour |
| Manufacturer | Rockwell International |
| Launch date | April 8, 2011 |
| Launch site | Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A |
| Landing date | June 1, 2011 |
| Landing site | Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility |
| Orbit reference | Low Earth orbit |
| Orbit periapsis | 350 km |
| Orbit apoapsis | 350 km |
| Orbit inclination | 51.6° |
| Mission duration | 15 days, 17 hours, 38 minutes |
STS-134 was the penultimate flight of the Space Shuttle program and the 25th flight of Endeavour. The mission launched from Kennedy Space Center and delivered critical equipment to the International Space Station including a major scientific instrument and spare components. It connected agencies, industrial contractors, and international partners in the final assembly phase of the International Space Station program.
Mission overview
STS-134 was planned and executed by NASA in coordination with partners including Roscosmos, European Space Agency, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency, and industrial contractors such as Boeing and Lockheed Martin. The flight supported the ongoing construction and outfitting of the International Space Station and served as one of the final flights in the Space Shuttle program. Launch operations involved personnel from Kennedy Space Center and mission control activities at Johnson Space Center.
Payload and objectives
The primary payload was the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-02), a particle physics detector built by a consortium led by Samuel Ting and institutions including the CERN-affiliated community, designed to study cosmic rays and search for dark matter signatures and antimatter. Secondary payloads included the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier-3 to deliver spare parts for the Mobile Base System, Canadarm2-compatible hardware supplied by MDA Corporation, and spares for the Environmental Control and Life Support System and Internal Thermal Control System. Objectives also included multiple Extravehicular Activitys to install the AMS-02, reconfigure station hardware, and transfer science racks provided by organizations such as NASA Ames Research Center and Ames Research Center contractors.
Crew
The six-person crew comprised experienced astronauts drawn from NASA and partner organizations: commander Mark Kelly, pilot Gregory H. Johnson, and mission specialists Michael Fincke, Andrew Feustel, Gregory Chamitoff, and Ellen Ochoa. Crew training involved facilities at Johnson Space Center, extravehicular activity preparation with Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory personnel, and robotics instruction with teams from Canadian Space Agency engineers associated with Canadarm2 operations.
Flight timeline
Following rollback to the Vehicle Assembly Building after weather and payload processing, the vehicle rolled back to Launch Complex 39A and launched on April 8, 2011. Rendezvous and docking with the International Space Station occurred on Flight Day 2, coordinating approach profiles used previously on missions like STS-125 and STS-129. Over the mission, the crew conducted three spacewalks working with Extravehicular Mobility Unit suits and tools supplied by Hamilton Sundstrand and ILC Dover systems. Robotics operations used the Shuttle Remote Manipulator System and joint operations with Canadarm2 to extract and install the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and other payloads. The mission concluded with undocking, a deorbit burn performed with assistance from flight dynamics teams at Johnson Space Center, and landing at Kennedy Space Center after 15 days in orbit.
Vehicle and ground support
The orbiter Endeavour underwent processing at Palmdale and final assembly at Orbiter Processing Facility bays before rollout to Kennedy Space Center. The external tank and solid rocket boosters were integrated by contractors including United Space Alliance and ATK. Ground support included tracking from TDRSS assets, contingency planning with the US Air Force for abort landing sites such as Edwards Air Force Base and international sites in coordination with Roscosmos and ESA facilities. Mission control and flight support teams operated from Mission Control Center (Houston) and launch teams at Kennedy Space Center.
Mission outcome and legacy
STS-134 successfully delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and logistics to the International Space Station, enabling long-duration cosmic-ray physics measurements that continue to produce scientific results for institutions like MIT and collaborators connected to CERN. The flight helped complete the assembly of the International Space Station and provided spare hardware that enhanced station resilience for future expeditions by Expedition 27 and beyond. As one of the final flights of the Space Shuttle program, Endeavour's mission closed a chapter in human spaceflight operations, influencing follow-on programs including Commercial Crew Program initiatives with companies such as SpaceX and Boeing and informing vehicle design in later projects like Orion. Ellen Ochoa and Mark Kelly's participation added to their respective flight records and public engagement with NASA outreach and STEM initiatives.