STS-126

STS-126
NASA · Public domain · source
Mission name	STS-126
Spacecraft	Space Shuttle Endeavour
Launch pad	Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39
Launch date	November 14, 2008
Landing date	November 30, 2008
Landing site	Edwards Air Force Base
Crew members	Christopher Ferguson, Eric Boe, Donald Pettit, Stephen Bowen, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Robert Kimbrough, Sandra Magnus
Duration	15 days, 20 hours, 30 minutes, 34 seconds

STS-126 was a NASA Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS), launched on November 14, 2008, from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The mission was crewed by Christopher Ferguson, Eric Boe, Donald Pettit, Stephen Bowen, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Robert Kimbrough, and Sandra Magnus, who joined the Expedition 18 crew on the ISS. The mission included four spacewalks and delivered equipment and supplies to the ISS, including a new life support system and solar arrays. The crew also performed maintenance and repair tasks on the ISS, including replacing a faulty nitrogen tank and performing a software update on the station's computer system.

Mission Overview

The STS-126 mission was the 124th Space Shuttle mission and the 27th mission to the ISS. The mission was designed to deliver equipment and supplies to the ISS, including a new life support system, solar arrays, and a water recovery system. The crew also performed maintenance and repair tasks on the ISS, including replacing a faulty nitrogen tank and performing a software update on the station's computer system. The mission was crewed by Christopher Ferguson, Eric Boe, Donald Pettit, Stephen Bowen, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Robert Kimbrough, and Sandra Magnus, who joined the Expedition 18 crew on the ISS. The mission was supported by Mission Control Center at Johnson Space Center and European Space Agency's European Astronaut Centre.

Crew

The STS-126 crew consisted of Christopher Ferguson as the Commander, Eric Boe as the Pilot, and Donald Pettit, Stephen Bowen, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Robert Kimbrough, and Sandra Magnus as Mission Specialists. Sandra Magnus joined the Expedition 18 crew on the ISS, replacing Gregory Chamitoff, who returned to Earth on the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The crew was trained at Johnson Space Center and European Space Agency's European Astronaut Centre, and was supported by NASA's Astronaut Corps and Russian Federal Space Agency's Cosmonaut Corps. The crew also worked closely with the Expedition 18 crew, including Michael Barratt, Sandra Magnus, and Koichi Wakata, who were on board the ISS.

Mission Objectives

The primary objectives of the STS-126 mission were to deliver equipment and supplies to the ISS, including a new life support system, solar arrays, and a water recovery system. The crew also performed maintenance and repair tasks on the ISS, including replacing a faulty nitrogen tank and performing a software update on the station's computer system. The mission also included four spacewalks, which were performed by Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Stephen Bowen, Robert Kimbrough, and Donald Pettit. The spacewalks were supported by NASA's Extravehicular Activity team and European Space Agency's European Space Operations Centre. The mission was also supported by Canadian Space Agency's Canadarm2 robotic arm and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo module.

Mission Timeline

The STS-126 mission launched on November 14, 2008, from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The crew spent 15 days, 20 hours, 30 minutes, and 34 seconds in space, during which they completed four spacewalks and delivered equipment and supplies to the ISS. The crew also performed maintenance and repair tasks on the ISS, including replacing a faulty nitrogen tank and performing a software update on the station's computer system. The mission ended on November 30, 2008, when the Space Shuttle Endeavour landed at Edwards Air Force Base. The mission was supported by Mission Control Center at Johnson Space Center and European Space Agency's European Space Operations Centre.

Spacewalks

The STS-126 mission included four spacewalks, which were performed by Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Stephen Bowen, Robert Kimbrough, and Donald Pettit. The spacewalks were supported by NASA's Extravehicular Activity team and European Space Agency's European Space Operations Centre. The first spacewalk was performed by Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Stephen Bowen on November 18, 2008, and lasted for 6 hours and 45 minutes. The second spacewalk was performed by Robert Kimbrough and Donald Pettit on November 20, 2008, and lasted for 6 hours and 45 minutes. The third spacewalk was performed by Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper and Stephen Bowen on November 22, 2008, and lasted for 6 hours and 57 minutes. The fourth spacewalk was performed by Robert Kimbrough and Donald Pettit on November 24, 2008, and lasted for 6 hours and 7 minutes. The spacewalks were used to perform maintenance and repair tasks on the ISS, including replacing a faulty nitrogen tank and performing a software update on the station's computer system. The spacewalks were also supported by Canadian Space Agency's Canadarm2 robotic arm and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Kibo module.

Category:Space Shuttle missions