Space Shuttle Endeavour Space Shuttle Endeavour 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"
Space Shuttle abort modes detailed RTLS maneuver is depicted in Mike Mullane's technothriller novel "Red Sky: A Novel of Love, Space, & War" Space Shuttle abort modes Space Shuttle abort modes were procedures by which the nominal launch of the NASA Space Shuttle could be terminated. A pad abort occurred after ignition of the shuttle's main engines but prior to liftoff. An abort during ascent that would result in the orbiter returning to a runway or to a lower than planned orbit was called an "intact abort", while an abort in which the orbiter would be unable to reach a runway, or any abort