Space Shuttle Endeavour

Shuttle Orbiter Endeavour (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-105) is the fifth and final operational NASA space shuttle to be built.

Related Topics:
NASA - Orbiter Vehicle Designation - Space shuttle

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The United States Congress authorized the construction of Endeavour in 1987 to replace Challenger, which was lost in an accident in 1986. Structural spares from the construction of shuttles Discovery and Atlantis were used in its assembly. The decision to build Endeavour was favored over refitting Enterprise because it was cheaper.

Related Topics:
United States Congress - 1987 - ''Challenger'' - Accident - 1986 - Discovery - Atlantis - Enterprise

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Endeavour was delivered in May 1991 and first launched in May 1992. On its first mission captured and redeployed the stranded INTELSAT VI communications satellite. The Space Shuttle wasn't designed to retrieve the satellite, however, which created many repair challenges. In 1993 it made the first service mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. Endeavour was withdrawn from service for eight months in 1997 for a retrofit, including installation of a new airlock. In December 1998, it delivered the Unity Module to the International Space Station.

Related Topics:
1991 - 1992 - 1993 - Hubble Space Telescope - 1997 - 1998 - Unity Module - International Space Station

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Endeavour was named through a national competition involving students in elementary and secondary schools. The orbiter is named after the HM Bark Endeavour, the ship commanded by 18th century explorer James Cook; the name also honored Endeavour, the Command Module of Apollo 15. Due to this origin, the name is spelt in the British English manner, rather than the American English spelling of "Endeavor".

Related Topics:
HM Bark ''Endeavour'' - 18th century - James Cook - Command Module - Apollo 15 - British English - American English

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As of August 2005, Endeavour is still in its Orbiter Major Modification period, which began in December 2003 and is expected to last through sometime in 2006.

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