Space Shuttle Endeavour OV-105 was the fifth operational orbiter, built to replace Challenger OV-099 after it exploded during launch on January 28, 1986. It flew 25 missions. It was delivered to NASA from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale on May 2, 1991. Its first flight was STS-49 which was launched from the Kennedy Space Center on October 3, 1985 and landed at Edwards Air Force Base on May 13, 1992. Its final mission was STS-134 which was launched from the Kennedy Space Center on May 16, 2011 and landed at the Kennedy Space Center on June 1, 2011. It is now on display at the California Science Center in Los Angeles.
May 2, 1991 Delivery flight of Endeavour OV-105 from Air Force Plant 42 at Palmdale
747-SCA takes off with Endeavor from Palmdale on May 2, 1991
747-SCA takes off with Endeavor from Palmdale on May 2, 1991
747-SCA takes off with Endeavor from Palmdale on May 2, 1991
747-SCA takes off with Endeavor from Palmdale on May 2, 1991
ISS and Space Shuttle Endeavour OV-105 over Goleta, August 20, 2007
The International Space Station and the Space Shuttle Endeavour streak across the sky north of Goleta at 9:31 to 9:35 PM on the evening of August 20. The two streaks end where the space ships enter the shadow of the Earth.
Time lapse movie of the International Space Station and the Space Shuttle Endeavour. The action has been speeded up by a factor of 25x.
December 5, 2008: Endeavour OV-105 at Edwards Air Force Base
Bad weather caused the Space shuttle Endeavour OV-105 to divert to Edwards Air Force Base at the conclusion of STS-126 on November 30. It was the 52nd Space Shuttle mission to land at Edwards. It will return to the Kennedy Space Center on a 747 Carrier Aircraft. On Friday, December 5 Endeavour was suspended under the Mate/Demate Device at the Dryden Flight Research Center being prepared for mounting on the 747.
High winds hampered the effort to mount it on the 747 Carrier Aircraft, so the departure was postponed until Wednesday, December 10.
Endeavour is suspended from the yellow cradle and lifted by the three yellow block and tackles. Gray workstands surround the orbiter and can be raised independently.
Thirty-one years earlier the Space Shuttle Enterprise, OV-101 is towed into the Mate/Demate Device on August 12, 1977 following its first Approach and Landing Test flight.
Former Space Shuttle astronaut Gordon Fulerton is the man in khaki with the baseball cap. He flew on two Approach and Landing test missions in the Enterprise and on the third flight of Columbia.