Latest Space Shuttle Mission Highlights - STS 126
 (5 March 2008) --- Attired in training versions of their shuttle launch and entry suits, these seven astronauts take a break from training to pose for the STS-126 crew portrait. Astronaut Christopher J. Ferguson, commander, is at center; and astronaut Eric A. Boe, pilot, is third from the right. Remaining crewmembers, pictured from left to right, are astronauts Sandra H. Magnus, Stephen G. Bowen, Donald R. Pettit, Robert S. (Shane) Kimbrough and Heidemarie M. Stefanyshyn-Piper, all mission specialists. Magnus is scheduled to join Expedition 18 as flight engineer after launching to the International Space Station on mission STS-126.  (14 Nov. 2008) --- Against a black sky, the Space Shuttle Endeavour and its seven-member STS-126 crew head toward Earth orbit and a scheduled link-up with the International Space Station. Liftoff was on time at 7:55 p.m. (EST) on Nov. 14, 2008 from launch pad 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center. Onboard are astronauts Chris Ferguson, commander; Eric Boe, pilot; Steve Bowen, Shane Kimbrough, Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Donald Pettit and Sandra Magnus, all mission specialists. Magnus will join Expedition 18 in progress to serve as a flight engineer aboard the ISS. The mission will feature four spacewalks and work that will prepare the space station to house six crew members for long-duration missions.  (30 Nov. 2008) --- Space Shuttle Endeavour's main landing gear touches down at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center at Edwards Air Force Base in California, concluding a successful mission to the International Space Station. Endeavour landed at 1:25 p.m. (PST) on Nov. 30, 2008 to end the STS-126 mission, completing its 16-day journey of over 6.6 million miles in space. The landing was diverted to California due to marginal weather at the Kennedy Space Center. The main landing gear touched down at 1:25:06 p.m. (PST). The nose landing gear touched down at 1:25:21 p.m. and wheel stop was at 1:26:03 p.m. The STS-126 mission was the 27th flight to the International Space Station, carrying equipment and supplies in the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo. The mission featured four spacewalks and work to prepare the space station to house six crewmembers for long-duration missions. Onboard were astronauts Chris Ferguson, commander; Eric Boe, pilot; Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper, Donald Pettit, Steve Bowen, Shane Kimbrough and Greg Chamitoff, all mission specialists. |   April 2008) --- The STS-126 patch represents Space Shuttle Endeavour on its mission to help complete the assembly of the International Space Station (ISS). The inner patch outline depicts the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Leonardo. This reusable logistics module will carry the equipment necessary to sustain a crew of six on board the ISS and will include additional crew quarters, exercise equipment, galley, and life support equipment. In addition, a single expedition crew member will launch on STS-126 to remain on board ISS, replacing an expedition crew member who will return home with the shuttle crew. Near the center of the patch, the constellation Orion reflects the goals of the human spaceflight program, returning us to the Moon and on to Mars, the red planet, which are also shown. At the top of the patch is the gold symbol of the astronaut office. The sunburst, just clearing the horizon of the magnificent Earth, powers all these efforts through the solar arrays of the ISS current configuration orbiting high above. The NASA insignia for design for shuttle flights is reserved for use by the astronauts and for other official use as the NASA Administrator may authorize. Public availability has been approved only in the form of illustrations by the various news Media. When and if there is any change in this policy it will be publicly announced.  (28 Nov. 2008) --- Backdropped by a blue and white Earth and the blackness of space, the International Space Station is seen from Space Shuttle Endeavour as the two spacecraft begin their relative separation. Earlier the STS-126 and Expedition 18 crews concluded 11 days, 16 hours and 46 minutes of cooperative work onboard the shuttle and station. Undocking of the two spacecraft occurred at 8:47 a.m. (CST) on Nov. 28, 2008. Please visit our other websites and Blogs using the following links; |
