CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- During a simulated launch countdown, the STS-134 crew pause for a photo opportunity before climbing onboard the Astrovan at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. As part of the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT), the crew members ride to Kennedy's Launch Pad 39A in the silver vehicle and strap into space shuttle Endeavour to practice the steps that will be taken on launch day. From right to left are, Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Greg H. Johnson , Mission Specialist Mike Fincke, Roberto Vittori, European Space Agency astronaut, and Mission Specialists Andrew Feustel and Greg Chamitoff. Endeavour's six crew members are targeted to launch April 19 at 7:48 p.m. EDT. They will deliver the Express Logistics Carrier-3, Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS), a high-pressure gas tank, additional spare parts for the Dextre robotic helper and micrometeoroid debris shields to the International Space Station. This will be the final spaceflight for Endeavour. For more information visit, www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts134/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett KSC-2011-2665
Summary
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- During a simulated launch countdown, the STS-134 crew pause for a photo opportunity before climbing onboard the Astrovan at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. As part of the Terminal Countdown Demonstration Test (TCDT), the crew members ride to Kennedy's Launch Pad 39A in the silver vehicle and strap into space shuttle Endeavour to practice the steps that will be taken on launch day. From right to left are, Commander Mark Kelly, Pilot Greg H. Johnson , Mission Specialist Mike Fincke, Roberto Vittori, European Space Agency astronaut, and Mission Specialists Andrew Feustel and Greg Chamitoff. Endeavour's six crew members are targeted to launch April 19 at 7:48 p.m. EDT. They will deliver the Express Logistics Carrier-3, Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer-2 (AMS), a high-pressure gas tank, additional spare parts for the Dextre robotic helper and micrometeoroid debris shields to the International Space Station. This will be the final spaceflight for Endeavour. For more information visit, www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts134/index.html. Photo credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
The Space Shuttle program was the United States government's manned launch vehicle program from 1981 to 2011, administered by NASA and officially beginning in 1972. The Space Shuttle system—composed of an orbiter launched with two reusable solid rocket boosters and a disposable external fuel tank— carried up to eight astronauts and up to 50,000 lb (23,000 kg) of payload into low Earth orbit (LEO). When its mission was complete, the orbiter would re-enter the Earth's atmosphere and lands as a glider. Although the concept had been explored since the late 1960s, the program formally commenced in 1972 and was the focus of NASA's manned operations after the final Apollo and Skylab flights in the mid-1970s. It started with the launch of the first shuttle Columbia on April 12, 1981, on STS-1. and finished with its last mission, STS-135 flown by Atlantis, in July 2011.
- STS-134 Shuttle Report | Endeavour crew's practice countdown
- Crew practices for Endeavour's final launch day - NBC News
- Launch of Space Shuttle Endeavour on the STS-126 mission - ESA
- Space Shuttle Endeavour ready for launch - ESA
- Mike Fincke during the fire drill in Node 1 simulator - ESA
- Andrew J. Feustel - ESA