STS-126 Landing

With commander Chris Ferguson and pilot Eric Boe at the controls, space shuttle Endeavour descended to a smooth landing at Edwards Air Force Base, California. The STS-126 crew members concluded their successful mission to the International Space Station when the shuttle touched down at 4:25 p.m. EST on 30th November 2008.

Endeavour arrived at the station 16th November, delivering equipment that will help allow the station to double its crew size to six. In addition, the STS-126 astronauts delivered Expedition 18 Flight Engineer Sandra Magnus, who replaced Greg Chamitoff, now a mission specialist who returned to Earth aboard Endeavour.

Four of the seven astronauts walked around and beneath Endeavour, taking a last look at the vehicle that served them well in orbit and brought them safely home earlier today. Commander Ferguson took a few minutes to speak to the media thanking the folks at Johnson, Kennedy and the landing team at Edwards for their help. Monday the crew will be flown back to Johnson Space Center in Houston for a family reunion and a homecoming celebration at Ellington Field.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• STS-126
• STS126
• Landing
• Touchdown
• Space
• Shuttle
• Endeavour

[notbendable]

Thanks Bruno! ...I forgot to DVR this one!

Yeah that main gear - drag chute - nose gear touchdown transition was one of the prettiest ones in recent memory.

[BrunoTheQuestionable]

The official time between main gear and nose gear touchdown is 15 seconds, compared to the usual time of around 11 seconds - keeping the nose up for longer scrubbed off more speed because of the shorter runway. It was very smooth anyway.

[blablubb12345]

This is normal for a "heavy" Orbiter landing (with the MPLM in the cargo bay). Touchdown speed was ~205 kts, compared to ~195 kts for a "light" Orbiter. Derotation is always at 185 kts.

[BrunoTheQuestionable]

Good point.

[Shadowsnshades]

Thanks for posting I heard the sonic booms here in Los Angeles.

[MewFushisDad]

What a Beautiful Machine.

What an incredibly smooth landing

[John19182004]

@superdave1014 not know that? That's all the *&$ing media ever says when they land out there. Not realizing ALL missions are planned for Edwards in so much as the money is in the budget, and the week to ferry back is in the processing flow for the orbiter's next flight.. a KSC landing is nice, and convenient, but doesn't cost anybody any extra.

[conorbeef]

you can fall asleep whilst watchin it

[superdave1014]

You got it. I live in South Florida, but i heard that central florida got a lot of rain too. If it was very mild, i'm sure it would have been ok, but the rain was heavy enough to cause some floods.

[D0dgeCharg3r]

Okay thnx, i think this was the same with the hubble mission sts-125. Atlantis landed yesterday at EAB, cuz the weather was too bad in florida, right?

[superdave1014]

When the weather prevents the shuttle from landing in Florida NASA lands the shuttle at EAB. It is not out of choice but due to weather. U might know this but it cost NASA about million dollars to fly the shuttle from california to florida. ^^

[D0dgeCharg3r]

Why the landing at Edwards, instead of KSC?

[qprwalshy]

thats impressive!

[Drewabc9]

wow the space shuttle traveld 50 miles in just a couple of minutes!

[Chrisjr2007]

The Space Shuttle Endeavour landed here in California and it was my birthday :)!

[Chrisjr2007]

:)) nice!