The Space Shuttle Endeavour's Final Launch

The Space Shuttle program has been a cornerstone of NASA's space exploration endeavors for decades, but all good things must come to an end. The final launch of the Space Shuttle Endeavour marked the culmination of an incredible journey that began in 1981 with the first launch of Columbia.

After years of dedication and hard work by thousands of individuals, the STS-135 mission finally took off on July 8, 2011, carrying a crew of four astronauts to the International Space Station. The mission was not without its challenges, however. In an address at the Marshall Space Flight Center in November 2010, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden emphasized the importance of flying the STS-135 mission due to potential delays in the development of commercial rockets and spacecraft designed to transport cargo to the ISS.

The budget for the STS-135 mission was approved in April 2011, with a total allocation of US$5.5 billion for NASA's space operations division, including the shuttle and space station programs. United Space Alliance signed a contract extension for the mission, which included six one-month options with NASA to support continuing operations.

Despite concerns about funding, the STS-135 mission was included in NASA's 2011 authorization, which was signed into law on October 11, 2010. The mission's primary cargo was the Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Raffaello and a Lightweight Multi-Purpose Carrier (LMC), both of which were delivered to the ISS.

The four-person crew of STS-135 was the smallest of any shuttle mission since STS-6 in April 1983. The mission's success was a testament to the dedication and expertise of the astronauts, NASA personnel, and countless others who contributed to its success.

STS-135 (ISS assembly flight ULF7) was the 135th and final mission of the American Space Shuttle program, marking an historic milestone in the history of space exploration. The final landing of the Space Shuttle Endeavour took place on July 21, 2011, following a one-day mission extension. As the shutters closed on this chapter of NASA's story, we can only look back with pride and wonder at what was accomplished during these incredible decades.

Space shuttle endeavour final launch