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Astronauts on NASA’s space shuttle Endeavour are {utilizing|using} the spacecraft’s robotic arm to inspect the shuttle’s heat shield for {harm|damage} {these days|today}.

This is the Endeavour‘s second day in orbit. The shuttle lifted off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida Monday morning. The six-man shuttle crew is on a 16-day mission to bring equipment, experiments and spare parts to the International Space Station.

This is Endeavour‘s last space flight {prior to|before} the shuttle is retired. Next month, space shuttle Atlantis is scheduled to go up on its final flight, marking the official retirement of NASA’s {whole|entire} shuttle fleet.

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On their {initial|first} full day in orbit, the shuttle crew is {utilizing|using} the 50-foot Orbiter Boom Sensor {Program|System} attached to the end of Endeavour‘s robotic arm to take images of the spacecraft’s wings and nosecap. They’re inspecting the vehicle’s thermal protection {program|system} tiles and reinforced carbon panels for any {harm|damage} that {may|might} have occurred {throughout|during} takeoff. The inspection, which is {regular|standard} {process|procedure} following any shuttle launch, uses cameras and lasers at the end of the boom to {offer|provide} {3|three}-D views of the shuttle.

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The images will be sent to NASA’s ground facilities, where engineers inspect them for any {issues|problems} with the shuttle’s thermal protection {program|system}. That {program|system} is {required|needed} to {safeguard|protect} the spacecraft {throughout|during} the blazing temperatures it will encounter upon re-entry into the Earth’s atmosphere.

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The shuttle’s robotic arm is a {crucial|critical} piece of machinery for the astronauts. They use it to inspect the space station {throughout|during} fly-bys, as {nicely|well} as to {function|work} “hand-in-hand” with the robots on the space station to unload {huge|massive} pieces of equipment and move them around {throughout|during} spacewalks.

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{Throughout|During} today’s inspection, shuttle astronauts Mike Fincke and Drew Feustel will {function|work} on preparing the spacesuits that will be transferred to the space station for use {throughout|during} the mission’s four spacewalks.

Endeavour is bringing up an {fascinating|interesting} {selection|variety} of equipment to the space station.

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For instance, {whilst|while} {it is|it’s} carrying an S-{poor|bad} communications antenna, the shuttle also is holding spare parts for the station’s Dextre robotic arm, along with a spare arm and hand for the humanoid robot that {lately|recently} took up residence on the orbiting station.

And Endeavour is bringing {3|three} satellite prototypes aloft. The thumbnail-sized satellites will be attached to the outside of the space station where they are expected to {function|work} for {a number of|several} years, collecting {information|data} on solar winds. Scientists hope that {inside|within} 10 years a fleet of these tiny satellites will be released to travel solar winds all the way to Saturn.

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