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Space Shuttle Endeavour
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<p>Space Shuttle <i>Endeavour</i> (<a href="/facts/Orbiter_Vehicle_Designation/pD50Txk9">Orbiter Vehicle Designation</a>: OV-105) is a retired <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle_orbiter/pD50Txk9">orbiter</a> from <a href="/facts/NASA/TIMCV0yV">NASA</a>'s <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle_program/6Ikdvwsw">Space Shuttle program</a> and the fifth and final operational <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle/7BoyetEv">Shuttle</a> built. It embarked on its first mission, <a href="/facts/STS-49/BvGk4Xyt">STS-49</a>, in May 1992 and its 25th and final mission, <a href="/facts/STS-134/vXf9Dmcv">STS-134</a>, in May 2011. STS-134 was expected to be the final mission of the Space Shuttle program, but with the authorization of <a href="/facts/STS-135/K9lMMNWC">STS-135</a> by the <a href="/facts/United_States_Congress/mJlU46K7">United States Congress</a>, <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle_Atlantis/3NQUThEB"><i>Atlantis</i></a> became the last shuttle to fly. </p><p>The <a href="/facts/United_States_Congress/mJlU46K7">United States Congress</a> approved the construction of <i>Endeavour</i> in 1987 to replace the <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle_Challenger/K4dGtVCC">Space Shuttle <i>Challenger</i></a>, which was <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle_Challenger_disaster/HMBh3T7Q">destroyed in 1986</a>. </p><p>NASA chose, on cost grounds, to build much of <i>Endeavour</i> from spare parts rather than refitting the <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle_Enterprise/HhtH1PfY">Space Shuttle <i>Enterprise</i></a>, and used structural spares built during the construction of <i><a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle_Discovery/MmSTr4G0">Discovery</a></i> and <a href="/facts/Space_Shuttle_Atlantis/3NQUThEB"><i>Atlantis</i></a> in its assembly. </p><p>The space shuttle will soon[<i>when?</i>] be on display in the upcoming Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center at the <a href="/facts/California_Science_Center/Q1byyRu3">California Science Center</a>. </p>