STS-134

STS-134
NASA/Paolo Nespoli · Public domain · source
Mission name	STS-134
Spacecraft	Space Shuttle Endeavour
Launch pad	Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39
Launch date	May 16, 2011
Landing date	June 1, 2011
Landing site	Kennedy Space Center

STS-134 was the 134th mission of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Space Shuttle program, and the 25th and final flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour. The mission was crewed by astronauts from the United States, Italy, and United Kingdom, including Mark Kelly, Gregory H. Johnson, Michael Fincke, Roberto Vittori, Andrew Feustel, and Gregory Chamitoff. The mission was launched from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 and landed back at the Kennedy Space Center. The crew visited the International Space Station, where they conducted scientific experiments and performed spacewalks, also known as EVAs, with the help of Canadarm2 and other equipment.

Mission Overview

The mission was a significant one for the Space Shuttle program, as it marked the final flight of Space Shuttle Endeavour before its retirement. The crew spent 16 days in space, during which time they conducted a variety of scientific experiments and performed four spacewalks. The mission was also notable for the fact that it was crewed by astronauts from multiple countries, including the United States, Italy, and United Kingdom. The crew worked closely with the European Space Agency, Canadian Space Agency, and Russian Federal Space Agency to achieve the mission's objectives. The mission was also supported by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Johnson Space Center, and Marshall Space Flight Center.

Crew

The crew of the mission included Mark Kelly, who served as the mission commander, and Gregory H. Johnson, who served as the pilot. The mission specialists included Michael Fincke, Roberto Vittori, Andrew Feustel, and Gregory Chamitoff. The crew was supported by a team of astronauts and engineers from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, including Chris Hadfield, Sunita Williams, and Kevin Ford. The crew also worked closely with the Astronaut Corps, which is based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The crew's training was supported by the European Astronaut Centre and the Yuri Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center.

Mission Objectives

The primary objective of the mission was to deliver the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to the International Space Station. The Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer is a scientific instrument designed to search for Dark matter and Antimatter in the universe. The crew also delivered a number of other scientific experiments and equipment to the International Space Station, including the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 3 and the Orbital Replacement Unit. The mission was also designed to test the performance of the Space Shuttle Endeavour and its systems, in preparation for its retirement. The crew worked closely with the CERN, European Organization for Nuclear Research, and the National Science Foundation to achieve the mission's scientific objectives.

Mission Timeline

The mission began on May 16, 2011, with the launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39. The crew spent the first two days of the mission in orbit, conducting checks of the spacecraft's systems and preparing for docking with the International Space Station. On May 18, the crew docked with the International Space Station, and began transferring cargo and equipment to the station. The crew spent the next 12 days conducting scientific experiments and performing spacewalks, before undocking from the International Space Station on May 30. The crew then spent two days in orbit, conducting final checks of the spacecraft's systems, before landing back at the Kennedy Space Center on June 1. The mission was supported by the Mission Control Center at the Johnson Space Center and the European Space Operations Centre.

Spacewalks

The crew performed four spacewalks during the mission, which were conducted by Andrew Feustel and Gregory Chamitoff. The first spacewalk was conducted on May 20, and lasted for 6 hours and 19 minutes. The second spacewalk was conducted on May 22, and lasted for 8 hours and 7 minutes. The third spacewalk was conducted on May 25, and lasted for 6 hours and 54 minutes. The fourth and final spacewalk was conducted on May 27, and lasted for 7 hours and 24 minutes. The spacewalks were supported by the Canadarm2 and other equipment, and were used to perform a variety of tasks, including the installation of the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer and the ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 3. The spacewalks were also supported by the Russian Federal Space Agency and the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency. The crew's spacewalk training was supported by the Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory and the Space Environment Simulation Laboratory.