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Mission Collection

STS-126: Space Shuttle Endeavour

Endeavour's STS-126 mission, Nov. 14, 2008 to Nov. 30, 2008. Preserved in the spacearchive.ai collection.

OrbiterEndeavour
LaunchedNov. 14, 2008
LandedNov. 30, 2008
Records in archive14

Mission Overview

STS-126 was a Space Shuttle mission flown by Endeavour. It launched on Nov. 14, 2008 and returned on Nov. 30, 2008.

The spacearchive.ai STS-126 collection brings together 14 records from the mission, including launch coverage, mission commentary, and landing coverage.

Together they preserve the primary-source record of the mission as it was captured at the time, for research and historical study.

STS-126 in the Archive

A working snapshot of what the collection holds today. The public catalog shows descriptive metadata; full media and transcripts are available through research access.

14Records
14Video
0Audio
10Transcribed
71%Transcribed & indexed

All records in this collection

AST-01350Landing Coverage · 2008-11-30

This recording captures the post-landing activities of STS-126 at Edwards Air Force Base, following a successful landing at 3:25 PM Central Time. Commander Chris Ferguson remarks on the unique experience of landing on a temporary runway due to renovations, highlighting the mission's ambitious goals, including the installation of a new water recycling system. The crew completed four spacewalks totaling 26 hours and 40 minutes, with mission specialist Greg Chamatov having spent six months in orbit.

AST-01351Landing Coverage · 2008-11-30

This recording captures the landing of STS-126 at Edwards Air Force Base on a temporary runway, marking the first use of this runway for a shuttle landing. Commander Chris Ferguson and Pilot Eric Boe executed a smooth touchdown at 3:25 PM Central Time, following a series of maneuvers to adjust for the unique landing conditions. The crew completed a total mission duration of 15 days, 20 hours, and 30 minutes, with significant contributions to the International Space Station's assembly.

AST-01406Launch Coverage · 2008-11-14

This recording captures the launch coverage of STS-126, beginning at T minus nine minutes and holding, with liftoff at 6:55 PM Central Time. Key ascent milestones include solid rocket booster separation, main engine cutoff, and external tank separation. Notably, Commander Chris Ferguson performed a plus X maneuver for photography of the external tank, and the mission features the first use of a regenerative life support system for water recycling aboard the International Space Station.

AST-01407Launch Coverage · 2008-11-14

This recording captures the launch coverage of STS-126, beginning at T-minus nine minutes and holding, with liftoff at 6:55 PM Central Time. Key ascent milestones include the roll program, solid rocket booster separation, main engine cutoff, and external tank separation. Notably, Commander Chris Ferguson confirmed a successful launch and the vehicle's readiness, while the crew prepared for an orbital maneuvering system burn scheduled to start in 24 minutes after launch.

AST-01408Launch Coverage · 2008-11-14

This recording captures the launch coverage of STS-126, starting at T-minus three hours and holding, with liftoff scheduled for 7:55 PM Eastern Time. Key ascent milestones include the roll program, solid rocket booster separation, main engine cutoff, and external tank separation. Notably, the launch director, Mike Leinbach, confirmed that there were no issues delaying the launch, and the mission aims to enhance the International Space Station's crew capacity from three to six members.

AST-01409Launch Coverage · 2008-11-14

This recording captures the STS-126 launch coverage from T-minus 3 hours to T-minus 1 hour, highlighting key countdown activities leading to liftoff at 7:55 PM Eastern Time. Notable moments include the completion of communication checks with the crew, the verification of the external fuel tank's sensors, and the final preparations for the shuttle's launch. The launch director, Mike Leinbach, confirmed no issues delaying the launch, while the crew members, including Commander Chris Ferguson and Pilot Eric Boe, were successfully strapped in and ready for flight.

AST-01410Video · 2008-11-14

Descriptive summary pending processing.

AST-01534Video · Nov 2008 (est.)

Descriptive summary pending processing.

AST-01535Video · Nov 2008 (est.)

Descriptive summary pending processing.

AST-01536Mission Commentary · Nov 2008 (est.)

This recording captures the second spacewalk of the STS-126 mission, beginning at 11:58 AM Central Time, with Shane Kimbrough and Heidi Stephanishin Piper working on the solar alpha rotary joint. The spacewalk commenced 49 minutes ahead of schedule, and the crew focused on relocating equipment and performing maintenance tasks. Notably, Kimbrough reported observing a blemish on the Canadarm2, which was documented during the EVA. The crew also prepared for a crew news conference scheduled for 2:05 PM Central Time.

AST-01537Mission Commentary · Nov 2008 (est.)

This recording captures the landing preparations for STS-126 at Edwards Air Force Base, with a planned landing at 3:25 PM Central Time. Commander Chris Ferguson and Pilot Eric Boe are informed that they will be landing on a temporary runway, marking the first shuttle landing at Edwards since STS-117 in June 2007. The decision to land at Edwards was made due to unfavorable weather conditions at Kennedy Space Center, including gusty winds and thunderstorms.

AST-01538Launch Coverage · 2008-11-14

This recording captures the launch coverage of STS-126, starting at T minus three hours and holding, with liftoff at 7:55 PM Eastern Time. Notable moments include Commander Chris Ferguson and Pilot Eric Boe suiting up, as well as the crew's final preparations in the White Room before boarding Endeavour. The recording highlights the successful completion of communication checks and the verification of the external fuel tank's sensors, confirming no issues delaying the launch.

AST-01539Video · 2008-11-14

Descriptive summary pending processing.

AST-01628Mission Commentary · 2008-11-15

This recording captures the rendezvous and docking activities of STS-126, specifically the successful docking of Endeavour with the International Space Station at 04:01 PM Central Time. Commander Chris Ferguson reported a minor misalignment issue with the docking mechanism, which was resolved after a brief wait. The crew, including mission specialists Greg Chamatov and Sandy Magnus, celebrated the successful connection, marking a significant milestone in the mission's objectives.

Open STS-126 in the catalog →

Notable Spoken History

Much of the STS-126 collection has been transcribed and speaker-labeled. Timestamped transcript excerpts will be featured here. Full transcripts are available through research access.

Official Sources

Primary references for STS-126. spacearchive.ai is an independent archive and is not affiliated with NASA.

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