spacecraft
Endeavour orbiter
Reusable crewed orbiter with docking, flight-control, and cargo-handling systems.
TransitSatellite Library / Launch Vehicle Engineering
Space Shuttle Endeavour
Reusable crewed spacecraft and launch system
Space Shuttle Endeavour helped assemble the ISS by delivering Unity, Canadarm2, Kibo hardware, Tranquility, and Cupola on separate missions.
Engineering overview
Space Shuttle Endeavour used the Shuttle launch stack and a reusable crewed orbiter to transport large station elements into orbit. Its cargo bay, robotic arm, crew, and docking capability allowed complex assembly work to take place directly at the International Space Station.
Endeavour delivered Unity on STS-88 in 1998 and Canadarm2 on STS-100 in 2001. It carried Kibo logistics hardware on STS-123 and the Kibo Exposed Facility on STS-127 in 2008 and 2009. On STS-130 in 2010, it delivered Tranquility and Cupola. These flights illustrate the Shuttle’s combined role as launch vehicle, transport spacecraft, and orbital construction platform.
Engineering schematic
Vehicle components
propellant
External tank
Carried propellants for the three orbiter main engines during ascent.
propulsion
Solid rocket boosters
Two boosters assisted liftoff and early ascent.
propulsion
Orbiter main engines
Provided sustained liquid-propellant thrust during ascent.
cargo
Payload bay
Carried ISS nodes, robotic systems, and Japanese station hardware.
robotics
Shuttle robotic arm
Supported the transfer and installation of station hardware.
Connected missions
December 4, 1998
STS-88
Unity (Node 1) and two Pressurized Mating Adapters
April 19, 2001
STS-100
Canadarm2 / Space Station Remote Manipulator System
March 11, 2008
STS-123
Kibo Experiment Logistics Module–Pressurized Section and Dextre
July 15, 2009
STS-127
Kibo Exposed Facility and Experiment Logistics Module–Exposed Section
February 8, 2010
STS-130
Tranquility (Node 3) and Cupola
ISS launch timeline
December 4, 1998
STS-88
April 19, 2001
STS-100
March 11, 2008
STS-123
July 15, 2009
STS-127
February 8, 2010
STS-130
TransitSatellite connections