space shuttle endeavour model with crawler

The shuttle's array of buttons and dials are distributed in panels identified by letters and numbers. And upon first glance, an observer wonders aloud how astronauts kept track of which switches were where. The shuttle's cockpit switches control a boggling number of systems, computers, pumps, circuits, heaters, valves, rockets and other components. Next the shuttle's complexity, a source of awe and vexation, hits you. It's still not much bigger than a moving truck, but the shuttle's living space eclipses the volume of capsules like Apollo, Soyuz and NASA's new Orion spacecraft. Now stripped of its kitchen, toilet, storage lockers and seats, the shuttle Endeavour's lower deck is spacious compared to the cramped flight deck. Even after removing the cockpit's two rear seats, only three or four people can comfortably fit on the flight deck. On most shuttle flights, four people rode to and from space on the orbiter's flight deck. Up to seven crew members lived aboard these ships for more than two weeks. This ship isn't flying in space anymore.Īfter getting over the visceral thrill of being inside a spaceship - the real thing - the compactness of the shuttle's crew cabin is quickly evident. Put aside the nagging worry of bumping into one of those switches. Inside Endeavour, a bond of technology and humanityĪ sea of switches, displays, gauges and buttons greets astronauts, engineers and the few lucky visitors who crawl inside a space shuttle.Įndeavour's flight deck on Wednesday. Privacy note: your e-mail address will not be used for any other purpose. Sign up for our NewsAlert service and have the latest space news e-mailed direct to your desktop. Comprehensive reports and voluminous amounts of video are available in our archives. For 11 years, Spaceflight Now has been providing unrivaled coverage of U.S.

Space shuttle endeavour model with crawler