STS-127 Fact Sheet

By Cliff Lethbridge

STS-127 – Endeavour

127th Space Shuttle Mission

23rd Flight of Endeavour

Crew:

Mark Polansky, Commander

Doug Hurley, Pilot

Christopher Cassidy, Mission Specialist

Tom Marshburn, Mission Specialist

Dave Wolf, Mission Specialist

Julie Payette, Mission Specialist

Tim Kopra, Mission Specialist, Embarking to International Space Station

Kiochi Wakata, Flight Engineer, Returning from International Space Station

Orbiter Preparations:

Tow to Orbiter Processing Facility – December 13, 2008

Rollover to Vehicle Assembly Building – April 10, 2009

Rollout to Launch Pad 39B – April 17, 2009 (as rescue vehicle)

Rollaround to Launch Pad 39A – May 31, 2009 (for launch)

Launch:

July 15, 2009 – 6:03 p.m. EDT. Launch was originally scheduled for June 13 but was postponed due to a hydrogen leak at the Ground Umbilical Carrier Plate. Launch was rescheduled for June 17, but the launch attempt was scrubbed when a similar hydrogen leak occurred. Troubleshooting and repairs caused the launch to be rescheduled for July 11, but the launch attempt was postponed to allow the effects of lightning strikes near the launch pad to be evaluated. Launch was rescheduled for July 12, but was postponed due to unacceptable weather at the Shuttle Landing Facility at the Kennedy Space Center. Launch was rescheduled for July 13, but was postponed due to bad weather at the Kennedy Space Center. Launch on July 15 occurred on time with no delays.

Landing:

July 31, 2009 – 10:48 a.m. EDT at Runway 15, Kennedy Space Center. Mission duration was 15 days, 16 hours, 44 minutes, 58 seconds.

Mission Summary:

The main goal of the mission was to deliver the Japanese Logistics Module (JLM) to the International Space Station (ISS). There were five spacewalks during the mission. The first spacewalk was conducted on July 18 and lasted 5 hours, 32 minutes. Astronauts Wolf and Kopra prepared the exterior of the KIBO module to receive the JLM. The second spacewalk was conducted on July 20 and lasted 6 hours, 53 minutes. Astronauts Wolf and Marshburn removed an antennae, pump module and linear drive unit from an Integrated Cargo Carrier and attached them to a stowage platform on the ISS P3 Truss.

The third spacewalk was conducted on July 22 and lasted 5 hours, 59 minutes. Astronauts Wolf and Cassidy removed insulation covers from the KIBO lab and prepared the JLM for installation. The spacewalk was ended early when carbon dioxide levels increased inside the space suit of astronaut Cassidy. The fourth spacewalk was conducted on July 24 and lasted 7 hours, 12 minutes. Astronauts Cassidy and Marshburn installed four batteries on the ISS P6 Truss.

The fifth spacewalk was conducted on July 27 and lasted 4 hours, 54 minutes. Astronauts Cassidy and Marshburn installed video cameras on the JLM and secured multi-layer insulation around the ISS Special Purpose Dexterous Manipulator (DEXTRE) robotic arm. After leaving ISS, the crew deployed two pairs of small satellites designed by college students.