Human Space Flight Is Awesome

Endeavour: A round 25

Endeavour is being rolled back to an orbiter processing facility after completing her 25th and final mission.

The US sections of the ISS are now complete, and the alpha magnetic spectrometer (AMS), the main reason this mission was approved, is working great. Other mission highlights included a chat with the Pope, the installation of another Express Logistics Carrier, and a couple of chats with American schools.

The process of removing Endeavour’s critical systems and engines has begun, but instead of testing and reinstalling them, Endeavour will be sent to California for museum display.

Endeavour is the newest of the space shuttle fleet, constructed to replace the lost Challenger. Structural spares from Discovery and Atlantis’ construction were used to reduce costs. Her first launch was in 1992.