United Space Alliance STS-126 Space Shuttle Endeavour / OV-105
Rocket Launch Video Stream
Meet the Astronaut Crew
Christopher Ferguson
| Birthday | 09/01/1961 |
|---|---|
| Role | Commander |
| Nationality | United States of America |
| First Flight | 09/09/2006 |
| Last Flight | 07/08/2011 |
Christopher J. Ferguson is a Boeing commercial astronaut and a retired United States Navy Captain and NASA astronaut. He was the pilot of Space Shuttle...
Eric Boe
| Birthday | 10/01/1964 |
|---|---|
| Role | Pilot |
| Nationality | United States of America |
| First Flight | 11/15/2008 |
| Last Flight | 02/24/2011 |
Eric Allen Boe is a United States Air Force fighter pilot Colonel, test pilot, a Civil Air Patrol member, and a NASA astronaut. He flew...
Heidemarie Stefanyshyn-Piper
| Birthday | 02/07/1963 |
|---|---|
| Role | Mission Specialist |
| Nationality | United States of America |
| First Flight | 09/09/2006 |
| Last Flight | 11/15/2008 |
Heidemarie Martha Stefanyshyn-Piper is an American Naval officer, engineer, and a former NASA astronaut. She has achieved the rank of Captain in the United States...
Robert S. Kimbrough
| Birthday | 06/04/1967 |
|---|---|
| Role | Mission Specialist |
| Nationality | United States of America |
| First Flight | 11/15/2008 |
| Last Flight | 04/23/2021 |
Robert Shane Kimbrough is a retired United States Army officer, and a NASA astronaut. He was part of the first group of candidates selected for...
Sandra Magnus
| Birthday | 10/30/1964 |
|---|---|
| Role | Mission Specialist |
| Nationality | United States of America |
| First Flight | 10/07/2002 |
| Last Flight | 07/08/2011 |
Sandra Hall Magnus is an American engineer and a former NASA astronaut. She returned to Earth with the crew of STS-119 Discovery on March 28,...
Donald Pettit
| Birthday | 04/20/1955 |
|---|---|
| Role | Mission Specialist |
| Nationality | United States of America |
| First Flight | 11/24/2002 |
| Last Flight | 09/11/2024 |
Donald Roy Pettit is an American chemical engineer and a NASA astronaut. He is a veteran of two long-duration stays aboard the International Space Station,...
Stephen Bowen
| Birthday | 02/13/1964 |
|---|---|
| Role | Mission Specialist |
| Nationality | United States of America |
| First Flight | 11/15/2008 |
| Last Flight | 03/02/2023 |
Stephen Gerard Bowen is a United States Navy submariner and a NASA astronaut; he was the second submariner to travel into space. Bowen has been...
About the STS-126 Mission
| Type | Human Exploration |
|---|---|
| Orbit | Low Earth Orbit |
| Launch Cost | $450,000,000 |
STS-126 was a Space Shuttle mission to the International Space Station (ISS) flown by Space Shuttle Endeavour. The purpose of the mission, referred to as ULF2 by the ISS program, was to deliver equipment and supplies to the station, to service the Solar Alpha Rotary Joints (SARJ), and repair the problem in the starboard SARJ that had limited its use since STS-120.
Launch Pad & Location
Launch Complex 39A
Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA
| Launches | 224 |
|---|---|
| Orbital Launch Attempts | 223 |
| Total Launches | 283 |
The John F. Kennedy Space Center, located on Merritt Island, Florida, is one of NASA's ten field centers. Since 1968, KSC has been NASA's primary launch center of American spaceflight, research, and technology. Launch operations for the Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs were carried out from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 and managed by KSC. Located on the east coast of Florida, KSC is adjacent to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS).
NASA Space Shuttle Rocket
The Space Shuttle is a retired, partially reusable low Earth orbital spacecraft system operated from 1981 to 2011 by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of the Space Shuttle program. Its official program name was Space Transportation System (STS). Five complete Space Shuttle orbiter vehicles were built and flown on a total of 135 missions from 1981 to 2011.
| Length | 56.1 m |
|---|---|
| Diameter | 8.0 m |
| Stages | 2 |
| Launch Mass | 2,030.0 T |
| Takeoff Thrust | 28,200.0 kN |
| LEO Capacity | 27,500 kg |
| Launch Cost | $450,000,000 |
| Maiden Flight | 4/12/1981 |
Mission Spacecraft
Space Shuttle Endeavour
Space Shuttle Endeavour (OV-105) was the spacecraft used for this mission. It is a NASA Spaceplane designed for Carrying a crew of 7 astronauts along with cargo to Low Earth Orbit. and traveled to International Space Station.
Space Shuttle Endeavour (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-105) is a retired orbiter from NASA's Space Shuttle program and the fifth and final operational shuttle built. It embarked on its first mission, STS-49, in May 1992 and its 25th and final mission, STS-134, in May 2011. STS-134 was expected to be the final mission of the Space Shuttle program, but with the authorization of STS-135, Atlantis became the last shuttle to fly. The United States Congress approved the construction of Endeavour in 1987 to replace Challenger, which was lost in 1986. Structural spares built during the construction of Discovery and Atlantis were used in its assembly. NASA chose, on cost grounds, to build Endeavour from spares rather than refitting Enterprise. The Space Shuttle was a partially reusable LEO spacecraft system operated by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of the Space Shuttle program. Its official program name was Space Transportation System (STS), taken from a 1969 plan for a system of reusable spacecraft of which it was the only item funded for development. The first of four orbital test flights occurred in 1981, leading to operational flights in 1982. In addition to the prototype whose completion was cancelled, five complete Shuttle systems were built and used on a total of 135 missions from 1981 to 2011, launched from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida. Operational missions launched numerous satellites, interplanetary probes, and the Hubble Space Telescope (HST); conducted science experiments in orbit; and participated in construction and servicing of the International Space Station. The Shuttle fleet's total mission time was 1322 days, 19 hours, 21 minutes and 23 seconds. 14 days
| Type | Spaceplane |
|---|---|
| Agency | NASA |
| Serial Number | OV-105 |
| Status | Retired |
| Destination | International Space Station |
| Maiden Flight | 4/12/1981 |
| Mission End | 11/30/2008 |
| Flights | 25 |
| Crew Capacity | 7 |
| Human Rated | Yes |
| Height | 56.1 m |
| Diameter | 8.7 m |
| Payload Capacity | 27,500 kg |
About United Space Alliance
United Space Alliance (USA) is a spaceflight operations company. USA is a joint venture which was established in August 1995 as a Limited Liability Company (LLC), equally owned by Boeing and Lockheed Martin.
| Total Launches | 51 |
|---|---|
| Successful | 50 |
| Failed | 1 |
| Consecutive Success | 22 |
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the United Space Alliance Space Shuttle STS-126 launch scheduled?
The United Space Alliance Space Shuttle STS-126 launch was scheduled for:
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Where can I watch the United Space Alliance Space Shuttle STS-126 launch video?
You can watch the United Space Alliance Space Shuttle launch video on this page. The official video includes full mission coverage with multiple camera angles, onboard views, and expert commentary covering pre-launch procedures, liftoff, stage separation, and payload deployment.
Where did the United Space Alliance Space Shuttle STS-126 mission launch from?
The United Space Alliance Space Shuttle rocket launched from Launch Complex 39A at Kennedy Space Center, FL, USA. The John F. Kennedy Space Center, located on Merritt Island, Florida, is one of NASA's ten field centers. Since 1968, KSC has been NASA's primary launch center of American spaceflight, research, and technology. Launch operations for the Apollo, Skylab and Space Shuttle programs were carried out from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39 and managed by KSC. Located on the east coast of Florida, KSC is adjacent to Cape Canaveral Space Force Station (CCSFS).
What rocket was used for the STS-126 mission?
The STS-126 mission launched aboard a United Space Alliance Space Shuttle rocket. The Space Shuttle is a retired, partially reusable low Earth orbital spacecraft system operated from 1981 to 2011 by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) as part of the Space Shuttle program. Its official program name was Space Transportation System (STS). Five complete Space Shuttle orbiter vehicles were built and flown on a total of 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. Detailed rocket specifications and performance data are available in the rocket details above.
What weather conditions could have delayed the United Space Alliance Space Shuttle STS-126 launch?
The United Space Alliance Space Shuttle STS-126 launch could have been delayed by various weather conditions including lightning within 10 nautical miles, high winds (especially upper-level winds), thick cloud layers, precipitation, and poor visibility. Weather must be favorable at the launch site, downrange landing zones, and abort landing sites.
How can I get updates if the United Space Alliance Space Shuttle STS-126 launch was delayed?
This page was updated in real-time with the latest United Space Alliance Space Shuttle launch status, including any delays or scrubs for the STS-126 mission. You can also check our space launch schedule for historical launch information. Our mobile app provides push notifications for instant alerts about launch status changes. Official United Space Alliance live streams provided the most immediate range updates during the launch window.
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