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Space Shuttle Endeavour facts for kids

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Endeavour
OV-105
STS-123 Dextre&Kibo ELM-PS in orbit (cropped).jpg
Endeavour in orbit in 2008, during STS-123
OV designation OV-105
Country United States
Contract award July 31, 1987
Named after HMS Endeavour (1764)
Status Retired, displayed at California Science Center in Los Angeles, California
First flight STS-49
May 7, 1992 – May 16, 1992
Last flight STS-134
May 16, 2011 – June 1, 2011
No. of missions 25
Crew members 173
Time spent in space 299 days, 3 hours, 34 minutes, 2 seconds
No. of orbits 4,671
Distance travelled 122,883,151 mi (197,761,262 km)
Satellites deployed 3
Mir dockings 1
ISS dockings 12

Space Shuttle Endeavour (also called OV-105) was a special spacecraft built by NASA. It was the fifth and last space shuttle made for the Space Shuttle program. Endeavour flew its first mission, STS-49, in May 1992. Its 25th and final mission was STS-134 in May 2011. This mission was supposed to be the very last one for the Space Shuttle program. But then, another mission, STS-135, was approved. This meant Atlantis became the last shuttle to fly into space.

The United States Congress decided to build Endeavour in 1987. It was made to replace Challenger, which was sadly lost in an accident in 1986.

NASA decided to build Endeavour using spare parts. These parts were left over from building other shuttles, Discovery and Atlantis. This was cheaper than fixing up an older shuttle called Enterprise.

Images for kids

  • Endeavour rollout ceremony

    Endeavour rollout ceremony in April 1991

  • STS-118 approaching ISS

    Endeavour as photographed from the International Space Station as it approached the station during STS-118

  • Endeavour silhouette STS-130

    Endeavour appears to straddle the stratosphere and mesosphere in this 2010 photo taken from the International Space Station.

  • Space Shuttle Transit

    Endeavour mounted on a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft

  • STS-130 Endeavour Rollout 6

    Endeavour approaches LC-39A before STS-130.

  • STS-126 Endeavour atop carrier aircraft

    Endeavour in flight en route back to the Kennedy Space Center atop a Shuttle Carrier Aircraft in 2008

  • Space Shuttle Endeavour Lands at the Kennedy Space Center on July 31st, 2009.

    Endeavour lands after STS-127 at the Kennedy Space Center Shuttle Landing Facility.

  • Platforms Around Endeavour In Orbiter Processing Facility-2

    Platforms around Endeavour in the Orbiter Processing Facility-2

  • STS 134 Endeavour Docked

    Space Shuttle Endeavour docked to the ISS for the last time

  • Endeavour docked to ISS

    Endeavour docked to the International Space Station on May 23, 2011, during its final mission

  • Space Shuttle Endeavour in Los Angeles - 2012 (37919560104)

    Endeavour moving through Los Angeles

  • Endeavour at California Science Center

    Endeavour on display at the California Science Center

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Transbordador espacial Endeavour para niños

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