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Space Shuttle Endeavour

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description Space Shuttle Endeavour Overview

Space Shuttle Endeavour is a retired NASA orbiter that served as the fifth and final operational vehicle in the Space Shuttle fleet. Commissioned in 1987 to replace the lost Space Shuttle Challenger, it was constructed using structural spares and completed its first flight, STS-49, in May 1992. Over its nineteen years of service, Endeavour completed 25 missions, carrying crews to conduct microgravity research, deploy satellites, and assemble the International Space Station. The orbiter logged nearly 123 million miles in space before retiring in 2011 and is currently displayed at the California Science Center.

help Space Shuttle Endeavour FAQ

Why was Space Shuttle Endeavour built?

NASA built Endeavour as a replacement for Challenger, which was lost in 1986. The orbiter was assembled partly from structural spares produced during the earlier shuttle program.

What was Endeavour's first mission?

Endeavour first launched on STS-49 in May 1992. During that mission, astronauts captured the stranded Intelsat VI satellite by hand after earlier retrieval attempts failed.

How many missions did Endeavour fly?

Endeavour completed 25 spaceflights between 1992 and 2011. Its final mission was STS-134, which delivered the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer to the International Space Station.

Where is Space Shuttle Endeavour now?

The retired orbiter belongs to the California Science Center in Los Angeles. It was transported through city streets in 2012 after arriving in California atop NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

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