Endeavour completes final mission; one flight left for NASA

Space shuttle Endeavour landed Wednesday morning at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.Endeavour's 16-day mission took it to the international space stationThe retirement will not end "the human need to explore," says Cmdr. Mark KellyThe shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to take off on NASA's final space shuttle mission on July 8

Kennedy Space Center, Florida (CNN) -- The space shuttle Endeavour landed at Kennedy Space Center in Florida early Wednesday, completing its 25th and final mission -- the next-to-last mission for NASA's 30-year-old space shuttle program.

"Welcome home, Endeavour," Mission Control in Houston said.

The spacecraft touched down at 2:34 a.m. ET at the end of a nearly 16-day mission to the International Space station.

"It's sad to see her land for the last time, but she really has a great legacy," said Cmdr. Mark Kelly after Endeavour rolled to a stop in the darkness of a warm Florida morning

The youngest of the shuttles retires after 25 space flights. During 299 days in space, Endeavour orbited the earth 4,671 times and logged almost 122.9 million miles, NASA said. It first went into service in 1993.

Endeavour unlocked from the International Space Station late Sunday after spending more than 11 days linked to the orbiting laboratory, where the astronauts installed a cosmic ray detector. The $2 billion, 15,000-pound machine is already at work "gathering information that could improve our understanding of the universe," Kelly said.

"The retirement of Endeavour and the shuttle fleet will not end the human need to explore," Kelly said in comments from space that were posted on NASA's website. "It is and always will be part of who we are. The United States will build other spaceships better than those of today. Even if they are years in the future, they will nevertheless increase our knowledge of the world, generate an enormous benefit to the economy and inspire our children."

On July 8, space shuttle Atlantis is to make NASA's final shuttle flight.

Thousands of people turned out Tuesday night at Kennedy Space Center to watch it make the three-mile trip from the Vehicle Assembly Building to the launch pad.

"Look how majestic it looks rolling out to the launch pad," said astronaut Sandy Magnus to reporters. "Look at that and see what we can do when we put our minds to it."

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Shuttle Endeavour leaves space station for last time

NASA's final shuttle voyage is scheduled for July 8Endeavour spends more than 11 days docked at the International Space StationThe shuttle is scheduled to land early Wednesday

(CNN) -- The space shuttle Endeavour undocked from the International Space Station for the last time late Sunday, as the craft nears the end of its final mission.

The scheduled 16-day mission began two weeks ago after multiple delays.

When Endeavour pushed away from the space station just before midnight, it had been docked for 11 days, 17 hour, 41 min, according to NASA's website.

The shuttle is scheduled to land at 2:35 a.m. ET Wednesday at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

Space shuttle Atlantis will make NASA's final shuttle voyage July 8 on a mission to deliver supplies and spare parts to the International Space Station, the agency said.

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NASA fuels space shuttle Endeavour for Monday launch

(CNN) -- The space shuttle Endeavour is set to lift off Monday on its final trip into space.

Forecasts indicate a 70% chance of favorable weather for the scheduled 8:56 a.m. ET launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

An estimated 500,000 people are expected to be on hand, said Michael D. Leinbach, NASA's shuttle launch director.

The mission will be commanded by Mark Kelly. His wife, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Arizona, arrived safely at the space center on Sunday, NASA said, four months after being shot in the head during an apparent assassination attempt at a public event in Tucson, Arizona. After initial treatment in Arizona, Giffords has been undergoing rehabilitation at the TIRR Memorial Hermann center in Houston.

NASA announced her arrival in a tweet, and a similar announcement was posted on her Facebook page.

Giffords, along with President Barack Obama, were in Florida on April 29, when Endeavour was originally slated to launch. But that liftoff was scrubbed because of a problem with a heater aboard the shuttle.

"The system looks good, the weather looks good, and we should be in good shape for launch," Mike Moses, launch integration manager for the NASA's space shuttle program, told reporters. "In our minds, we are good to go."

Farewell, my space shuttle

In a Monday morning tweet, mission specialist Col. Mike Fincke wrote, "Dear God, please bless our crew. Help us in our mission and to return safely home."

Fincke added, "please help me not to mess anything up."

Moses said the heater problem has been fixed. He said that while additional checks will be conducted on the heater and other systems prior to launch, no mechanical problems were anticipated.

With the delay, Endeavour is now scheduled to return to Earth on June 1. That is the same day the space shuttle Atlantis is slated to roll out to the launch pad in anticipation of the final mission in the space shuttle program's 30-year history.

The shuttle program's end --and the uncertainly surrounding the future of NASA and the U.S. space program -- has been a hot topic in recent months. Leinbach acknowledged Saturday that "the mood is a little bit downcast" in the space agency, especially as some NASA employees recently received notices warning that they could lose their jobs.

"The timing is a little unfortunate, but we've all known it's been coming," he said.

Endeavour entered service in 1992 as a replacement for the ill-fated space shuttle Challenger. Leinbach, who was a test director for that inaugural mission, said the orbiter remains in prime condition 19 years later.

"She still looks awfully good out there," said Leinbach. "She's got a lot of life left in her, but that's not meant to be."

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NASA sets Endeavour launch for May 16

A short in a heater circuit caused the cancellation of Endeavour's April 29 launch.The space shuttle Endeavour had a short circuit on its April 29 launch dateTechnicians worked over the weekend to repair and retest the electrical system

(CNN) -- The final launch of space shuttle Endeavour is now scheduled for May 16 after a delay caused by an electrical fault, NASA said Monday.

The next launch attempt will be at 8:56 a.m. EDT, said NASA Space Shuttle Program Launch Integration Manager Mike Moses.

NASA had previously said that the final flight for Endeavour would be no earlier than May 16. Before that, it had said the launch wouldn't be before May 10.

A short in the heater circuit associated with the orbiter's hydraulic system caused the cancellation of Endeavour's April 29 launch, officials said. Technicians worked over the weekend to repair and retest the electrical system.

NASA repair crews replaced a faulty switch box last week and installed and tested new wiring. The heater system is working properly now, they said.

The flight is the last planned mission for Endeavour as NASA retires its shuttle fleet. The orbiter entered service in 1992 as a replacement for the ill-fated Challenger.

The scrubbed April 29 launch postponed what promised to be an emotional moment for the shuttle's commander, Mark Kelly.

Kelly's wife, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Arizona, traveled to Florida hoping to watch the shuttle's ascent. Giffords was shot in the head during a January 8 assassination attempt at a public event in Tucson, Arizona, and has been recovering at a Houston rehabilitation hospital.

Giffords later returned to the TIRR Memorial Hermann center in Houston, according to a post on her Facebook page. She is expected to attend the next launch attempt.

CNN's Rich Phillips and John Couwels contributed to this report.

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NASA: Endeavour launch postponed again, to after May 10

When Endeavour does launch, it will be the space shuttle's final mission.The space shuttle Endeavour had a short circuit on its April 29 launch dateNASA technicians are looking at what caused the circuit to short outThe flight will be Endeavour's final one

(CNN) -- The rescheduled launch date of the space shuttle Endeavour, whose mission was scrubbed last week due to an electrical problem, remained uncertain Wednesday, but sources told CNN the next liftoff could be as late as May 13.

The launch, which will be the final flight for the Endeavour, won't be any earlier than May 10, NASA said.

Technicians continue to test the electrical system to determine what caused a circuit to short out, causing the cancellation of Endeavour's April 29 launch, officials said. The liftoff was delayed until this past Monday and then to no earlier than May 10 at 11:21 a.m., officials said.

NASA repair crews have already replaced the power distribution box that shorted out a circuit supplying power to heaters for the orbiter's hydraulics system.

The scrubbed April 29 launch postponed what promised to be an emotional moment for the shuttle's commander, Mark Kelly.

Kelly's wife, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Arizona, traveled to Florida to watch the shuttle's ascent. Giffords was shot in the head during a January 8 assassination attempt at a public event in Tucson, Arizona. She has been recovering at a Houston rehabilitation hospital.

Giffords returned Sunday to Houston and TIRR Memorial Hermann hospital, according to a post on her Facebook page.

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Endeavour won't launch Monday, NASA says

Photographers check their equipment at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on Saturday.NEW: Giffords is back in Houston, will travel to Florida again for the launchThe earliest possible launch date is May 8, NASA saysThe initial launch was delayed for at least 72 hours on FridayThe delay was prompted by concerns over the shuttle's heating system

Kennedy Space Center, Florida (CNN) -- A plan to launch the space shuttle Endeavour on Monday has been scrubbed, and a new launch likely will not come before the end of the week at the earliest, officials said Sunday.

Endeavour's final launch was delayed by at least 72 hours Friday because of concerns about the shuttle's heating system. Monday was the earliest possible liftoff date following the delay.

As part of NASA's examination of the problem, officials said, the external fuel tank was drained of its hydrogen and oxygen propellants Friday night.

A new launch date has not been set, Mission Management Team chairman Mike Moses told reporters Sunday, but "it's not going to be any earlier than the 8th."

The problem has been determined to be "a power problem." he said.

The crew, their families and support staff were being allowed to travel home, Moses said.

The delay postponed what promised to be an emotional moment for the shuttle's commander, Mark Kelly. Kelly's wife, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, traveled to Florida to watch the shuttle's ascent. Giffords was nearly killed January 8 when she was shot in the head by a would-be assassin at a public event in Tucson, Arizona. She has been recovering at a Houston rehabilitation hospital.

Giffords flew back to Houston and TIRR Memorial Hermann hospital on Sunday, according to a post on her official Facebook page. She will have "a couple days of good therapy" before traveling back to Florida for the launch, the post said.

After the launch, Giffords' office said in a statement that "Congresswoman Giffords is disappointed that Endeavour was unable to launch today, but realizes that mission safety must come first. Launch delays are not uncommon with the space shuttle," the statement said. "We are looking forward to the quick rescheduling of this scientifically important mission. The congresswoman was pleased, however, to have been able to meet with President Obama and the first family."

President Barack Obama and the first lady also went to the launch site, and Obama personally visited with Giffords for about 10 minutes, a White House official said. Obama also met the entire Endeavour crew, including Kelly.

Kelly was tapped to lead a crew that includes pilot Gregory Johnson; mission specialists Michael Fincke, Greg Chamitoff and Andrew Feustel; and European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori.

Endeavour has logged more than 103 million miles in space, blasting off 24 times, but its 25th flight will be its last.

As NASA's shuttle program winds down with the last launch scheduled this summer, many in the astronaut corps are wrestling with what to do next. For the foreseeable future, Russian rockets will be the only way for U.S. astronauts to get to space.

Fincke spent a total of a year in space on the International Space Station, getting there and back twice on Russian rockets. But Friday's delayed flight will be his first on the shuttle.

Four spacewalks are planned for the mission. The space walkers will retrieve experiments, install new ones, refill tanks and lubricate parts at the International Space Station.

In its cargo bay, Endeavour will carry the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. At $1.5 billion, it is the most expensive piece of equipment a space shuttle has ever carried.

The spectrometer is designed to capture space particles like anti-matter and dark matter that scientists know very little about but believe exist in the universe. The spectrometer will be mounted outside the International Space Station. If it's successful, it could lead to a better understanding of how our universe began and evolved.

CNNRadio's Steve Kastenbaum contributed to this report.

"I bet you were hoping to see a rocket launch today," Endeavour's Mark Kelly said to President Obama, who replied, "We were hoping to see you."The president met Friday with shooting victim Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who's awaiting Endeavour's launch with her astronaut husband.NASA's shuttle program accomplished a tremendous amount, but in some ways it fell short of its original purpose.A plan to launch the space shuttle Endeavour on Monday has been scrubbed, officials said Sunday.As Endeavour takes on its final mission, the man who commanded the spacecraft's maiden flight in '92 is nostalgic and hopeful.Astronauts eat pretty well up there: links and eggs, chicken and mashed potatoes, apples and candy bars. But there's a catch.For Endeavour's commander Mark Kelly, there was good news.Today's five most popular stories

CNN

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Endeavour won't launch Monday, NASA says

Photographers check their equipment at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, on Saturday.NEW: Giffords is back in Houston, will travel to Florida again for the launchThe earliest possible launch date is May 8, NASA saysThe initial launch was delayed for at least 72 hours on FridayThe delay was prompted by concerns over the shuttle's heating system

Kennedy Space Center, Florida (CNN) -- A plan to launch the space shuttle Endeavour on Monday has been scrubbed, and a new launch likely will not come before the end of the week at the earliest, officials said Sunday.

Endeavour's final launch was delayed by at least 72 hours Friday because of concerns about the shuttle's heating system. Monday was the earliest possible liftoff date following the delay.

As part of NASA's examination of the problem, officials said, the external fuel tank was drained of its hydrogen and oxygen propellants Friday night.

A new launch date has not been set, Mission Management Team chairman Mike Moses told reporters Sunday, but "it's not going to be any earlier than the 8th."

The problem has been determined to be "a power problem." he said.

The crew, their families and support staff were being allowed to travel home, Moses said.

The delay postponed what promised to be an emotional moment for the shuttle's commander, Mark Kelly. Kelly's wife, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, traveled to Florida to watch the shuttle's ascent. Giffords was nearly killed January 8 when she was shot in the head by a would-be assassin at a public event in Tucson, Arizona. She has been recovering at a Houston rehabilitation hospital.

Giffords flew back to Houston and TIRR Memorial Hermann hospital on Sunday, according to a post on her official Facebook page. She will have "a couple days of good therapy" before traveling back to Florida for the launch, the post said.

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After the launch, Giffords' office said in a statement that "Congresswoman Giffords is disappointed that Endeavour was unable to launch today, but realizes that mission safety must come first. Launch delays are not uncommon with the space shuttle," the statement said. "We are looking forward to the quick rescheduling of this scientifically important mission. The congresswoman was pleased, however, to have been able to meet with President Obama and the first family."

President Barack Obama and the first lady also went to the launch site, and Obama personally visited with Giffords for about 10 minutes, a White House official said. Obama also met the entire Endeavour crew, including Kelly.

Kelly was tapped to lead a crew that includes pilot Gregory Johnson; mission specialists Michael Fincke, Greg Chamitoff and Andrew Feustel; and European Space Agency astronaut Roberto Vittori.

Endeavour has logged more than 103 million miles in space, blasting off 24 times, but its 25th flight will be its last.

As NASA's shuttle program winds down with the last launch scheduled this summer, many in the astronaut corps are wrestling with what to do next. For the foreseeable future, Russian rockets will be the only way for U.S. astronauts to get to space.

Fincke spent a total of a year in space on the International Space Station, getting there and back twice on Russian rockets. But Friday's delayed flight will be his first on the shuttle.

Four spacewalks are planned for the mission. The space walkers will retrieve experiments, install new ones, refill tanks and lubricate parts at the International Space Station.

In its cargo bay, Endeavour will carry the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer. At $1.5 billion, it is the most expensive piece of equipment a space shuttle has ever carried.

The spectrometer is designed to capture space particles like anti-matter and dark matter that scientists know very little about but believe exist in the universe. The spectrometer will be mounted outside the International Space Station. If it's successful, it could lead to a better understanding of how our universe began and evolved.

CNNRadio's Steve Kastenbaum contributed to this report.

"I bet you were hoping to see a rocket launch today," Endeavour's Mark Kelly said to President Obama, who replied, "We were hoping to see you."The president met Friday with shooting victim Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, who's awaiting Endeavour's launch with her astronaut husband.NASA's shuttle program accomplished a tremendous amount, but in some ways it fell short of its original purpose.A plan to launch the space shuttle Endeavour on Monday has been scrubbed, officials said Sunday.As Endeavour takes on its final mission, the man who commanded the spacecraft's maiden flight in '92 is nostalgic and hopeful.Astronauts eat pretty well up there: links and eggs, chicken and mashed potatoes, apples and candy bars. But there's a catch.For Endeavour's commander Mark Kelly, there was good news.Today's five most popular stories

CNN

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