Onboard Space Shuttle Endeavour's Powered Up Flight Deck

- / mikekillianphotography
- / mikekillianphotography
I had the rare opportunity to visit the flight deck of space shuttle Endeavour on May 3, 2012 while the orbiter was powered up. Technicians powered the shuttle up so they could continue with removing hazards and toxins to safe the vehicle for public display at the California Science Center later this year.
While on the flight deck I met a gentlemen named Rene Arriens, one of the many unsung heroes of the shuttle program. Rene spent the last 30 years working on the shuttle program in various capacities; spacecraft operator, pad technician, and was even a member of the close-out crew who helped board the astronauts on the shuttle before their historic flights, and he took a few minutes to go over some of the many workings of the powered up flight deck of a space shuttle.
For Zero-G News (www.zerognews.com)
@ Copyright 2012 Mike Killian, www.mikekillianphotography.com

[@dragonmaid1360]

Imagining the electrical configuration for all that makes my brain hurt.

[@shaggydawg5419]

That man removes his glasses and tears up at the end. It is sad to end the space shuttle program but all good things must come to an end.

[@Leonidas-vc6hz]

Rene is a top notch guy. If you ever get a chance to meet him you'll be impressed. He was a big part of my path at the Cape.

[@mfeldheim]

Nice video and nice gesture to express appreciation to the technician - all the people behind such projects often do not get much of the glory. I think your little speech also touched his heart

[@JeffreyBue_imtxsmoke]

I love videos like this. It's no wonder I like to watch KZbin over "regular" TV

[@nazimL1011]

never stop to impress me......really sad to see all this coming to an end

[@theatom7264]

As much as I hated how unsafe the shuttle was & how much it actually costs to refurbish & reuse the Shuttle it was a pretty cool looking spacecraft. It made for some pretty cool toys in the 1990's & 2000's.

[@magicstix0r]

Yeah but think of where we'd be today if we'd done it right and none had the Shuttle in the first place...

[@dinoschachten]

Still dreaming of an insanely detailed 1m/3ft long orbiter model with all the individual heat shield tiles to hang over my bed. :)

[@funawesome2006]

Cool

[@doltBmB]

The shuttle was pretty damn safe.

[@MrLathor]

Strange logic to hate something so forward thinking and leading edge. Yuri Gagarin and John Shepards flights were certainly “unsafe” but absolutely worth doing and appreciating. Any significant advancement requires a level of risk.

[@mikemerrill6874]

This is what Daft Punk sees when they go onstage.

[@Nothing51337]

Contact- Daft Punk

[@grindit2findit338]

It's very cool to see humble people like that. He seems to know every bolt and switch in the machine. I still feel his body language is he really wanted to thank all of us helping him do what he does.

[@Tahoe2002Md]

Thanks so much for having put this together. What a great tour. So very sad the program got shut down before it's time. Hail, Challenger, Hail Columbia.

[@jsmithmultimediatech]

Hey it actually went a fair bit at least longer than NASA originally planned, if I remember correctly was only planned for them to be used for 10 years I think, but ended up being 30 thats quite a difference! Is though incredibly sad to say the least will agree to that entirely was commissioned the year I was born as well haha

[@dinoschachten]

Really cool stuff! Exactly what I was looking for!! Thanks for this video!

[@waterbeing3197]

Thank you for this Mike. Amazing

[@luciusvorenus9445]

Thanks for sharing the video and pictures. I really enjoyed them.

[@HorsepowerIndustries]

This is awesome! I think youtube knows where I’ve been, because last Tuesday I was able to visit the California Science Center and see the space shuttle Endeavour up close. it was a humbling experience. thanks for making this video!

[@kenlanier2131]

Thanks for the video!! Awesome photos at the end. Miss the shuttle program!!

[@Ryan19812012]

Space shuttle endeavor flight deck looks pretty cool.

[@eddiem6975]

What a truly beautiful machine

[@vincentgreen4716]

This one of the machines i will ever forget

[@ahmadtheaviationlover1937]

that is a crazy amount of buttons and kinda reminds me of those spacecraft used in sci movies! loove sci fi movies

[@Dra741]

love him he is truely great

[@virubudgama9078]

thank you so much for this video! awesome!

[@johnwilliamson5191]

good vid Mike thank you

[@planecrush772]

you're such a lucky guy...always wish to get on the shuttle :)

[@brett728]

Incredible

[@goldameir]

Awesome!

[@Scholesy92]

Fantastic Video and great interview, big shame about the shuttle program. Now it seems we have a new generation of explorers, scientists and engineers; for in a few hours today - fly falcon heavy, fly.

[@saints093]

I agree, Endeavour SHOULD HAVE kept flying because it was the newest orbiter in the shuttle fleet, it was built to replace Challenger, NASA made a BIG mistake to retire the Space Shuttle Program altogether.

[@AmericaSpace]

It wasn't NASA's decision it was Congress & the President, Obama Administration actually extended STS for 135 from 134. NASA couldn't afford shuttle AND beyond Earth orbit missions like Apollo, it's one or the other. The voters should speak up to their leaders about NASA's budget if they don't like the agency always getting underfunded.

[@saints093]

Congress should be ashamed of what they have done, scrapping the shuttle program when Endeavour was still a fairly new orbiter, she still had LOTS of missions ahead of her.

[@KingGustav99]

Na it was far to expensive and really not sustainable or efficient, plus we could just get the Russians to do all the shit for us. Win-win situation.

[@dirkthes2s]

Except you literally paid the Russians for it and they made good business with you lmao

[@1sydman1]

CAN ANYONE ACTUALLY TELL ME SOMETHING That THE SHUTTLE PROGRAM ACHIEVED FOR THE NORMAL CITIZEN? SORRY ABOUT THE CAPS

[@Robin-ku1xt]

This was real engineering, even more than an aircraft

[@jsmithmultimediatech]

Well in reality was more a rocket and a glider

[@RobertPisan]

Great video - humble guy you interviewed as well, I really hope he found work after the program finished. I'm going to have to disagree with everyone that said Endeavour should of kept flying - I was sad to see the last flight in 2011, but the Shuttle program had achieved all it was ever going to do given the decade it was designed in, lack of funds in its development and its inherent design flaws. To keep any of the Shuttle flying would be irresponsible and inviting another accident to happen. The real sadness I feel is the completely lax attitude towards manned spaceflight the last decade or so - hopefully once the Indian and Chinese governments start putting people back on the moon it will encourage the rest of the world to not be so short sighted.

[@dinoschachten]

Very true. No doubt the Space Shuttle orbiters are awesome and severely epic, but they were flawed (at the very least the booster design and refurbishment process was) - to me they are like the moody friend who has let you down but whom you love no matter what for all their awesomeness - you love to spend time with them, but you can't deny that they are a risky choice when it comes to reliable performance under extreme stress. Sorry for being so pedantic: Frankly you mean "should have", not "should of".

[@thehighwayman78]

Now that's a spaceship!

[@EinChris75]

I really feel sorry for the technician. Working 30 years in a program and not knowing what to do in future must be hard. Hope he found a satisfying job by now.

[@francescopaolociminale5258]

+EinChris75 I am feeling sorry about your ignorance.

[@EinChris75]

+FRANCESCO PAOLO Ciminale can you explain why you call me ignorant?

[@panas1122]

almost 30 years working on program. He's a genius. With that big experience will find something easy.

[@ReginaZdrojkowska]

Same here. It must be really hard to find that type of work in the U.S.A now? I wish the tech nition and all who are looking for work the best and hope they find the work they need and want.

[@theatom7264]

He's likely going to be working for the Space Launch System & Orion program now as it will be the successor to the STS program & should be putting lots of former Shuttle employees back to work hopefully.

[@ReginaZdrojkowska]

Thanks for posting as a Brit I do appreciate seeing this I love space!

[@ReginaZdrojkowska]

No real space projects via nasa esa (SCI -FI TOO) Goodness knows whats going to happen to the british one now we've left europe everyone interested in real space projects has to work internationally if we are all to succeed.

[@ReginaZdrojkowska]

Not only sci-fi the real space science too. eg i love watching programs like Horizon and the sky at night to find out about it.i

[@ReginaZdrojkowska]

Sorry if the following upsets you, but I know its real as i understand the science and have seen science related to it )I also studied philosophy and if you dont know philosophy of science enables a person to understand how science works AND its flaws)space science is also very important for understanding the earth and the climate and yes probably controversial in the U.S.A evolution. Not only of the solar system but life in general. (And if you object IF you are a creationist science and faith dont eXclude each other. I would kindly suggest you listen to all sides of the argument then do some unbiased research out side of your comfort zone .It might suprise and please you . if nothing else at least you be open to investigating. All the best. even if we dont agree.(typos edited)

[@ReginaZdrojkowska]

um how come this is on a site about space. i am constantly suprised how some discussions lose focus on the main topic. no offence is intended.or should be inferred.

[@Ryan19812012]

1 year after Endeavor final launch on 05/16/2011 and landing on 06/01/2011.

[@irishpaddy555]

Id be jumping out of bed in the morning to go work with that..😄

[@klk1900]

Btw thank you to the guy videoing for saying “Thank you” for all of us! You can tell it pulled his heart strings. Makes me happy, seeing you were thoughtful enough to say that sincerely.

[@blakek.7201]

I have a family friend who flew on her on her first flight. I really wish they could keep the fight deck open up n not sitting in hanger looking like shes dead.

[@larslemn4835]

Can i plug ps4 controller there?

[@Roselyroses]

All lit up. 😊😊😊

[@aquarius9491]

How many pages is the instruction manual on all these systems?

[@apollo4619]

Ray Haynes about a 1,000 There is a PDF file you can read with all of them

[@macieksoft]

www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/390651main_shuttle_crew_operations_manual.pdf Have nice lecture :-)

[@omarragab2916]

A few thousand pages

[@bloated758]

cant wait to learn to fly my very own shuttle

[@electmech5916]

nice

[@Nithincr1]

10 Years ago today Endeavour's final landing 🥺

[@ryancool-pq5vu]

Space Shuttle Endeavour one of the most modern space shuttles. NASA should have kept Endeavour on standby.

[@CranioUomo]

where is this

[@dougrigel1997]

A fleet of modern, safe space shuttles need to be designed and built.

[@mildredcox4682]

"..and here I thought I was the only androgynous thing at NASA with its own joystick!"

[@jeez297]

THIS is what made America great

[@Derail07]

So that's what a billion dollars looks like

[@coreyzimmerman9782]

I have some fellow space devotees.......my forever question: how did they attach the shuttle to to the main fuel tank? It just seems impossible that something that big and heavy could be attached to something in just a few places. The engineering of all the shuttle systems were unmatched....thanks!

[@davidodonovan4982]

It was basically bolted on, with 3 frangible bolts, 2 attached to a cross beam at the base of the main fuel tank which also carries the fuel umbilicals and electrical connections, for the main tank, the LOX on one side and the liquid hydrogen on the other and 1 attached to a single fixing point at the top. It's basically bolted on. When the Shuttle reached near orbit they initiate (MECO) Main engine cut off, around 10 seconds before detonating the 3 frangible bolts jettisoning the main tank this is to prevent the SSME's from getting damaged through fuel starvation. The Shuttle also pitches to an upright position with the Main fuel tank underneath the orbiter so that when its jettisoned it falls away from the orbiter and back towards the earth where it will burn up on re entry in the upper atmosphere at the same time the RCS system fires pushing the Shuttle upward and away from the tank so as to avoid damage to the heat shield, the orbiter is not quite in its correct orbit yet and they can't use the SSME's anymore as they've just jettisoned the main tank so they use the OMS system burn to fine tune the remainder of the flight and put the Shuttle in its correct orbit. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pX7IiZZ4oJarY8U

[@CERTIFIEDBABEWRANGLER]

Where the AUX at

[@USAIRFORCE621]

I agree with everyone that says that Shuttle program shouldn't have been cut off and yes Endeavor was a relatively new orbiter built only in 1987 so she still had many flights left in her as did Discovery which was built in 1979, and the same for Atlantis built in 1979, now the U.S., has been cut off at the knees by power hungry pricks on the hill who don't give two shits about science, all they want is raises and a comfortable retirement! Excuse me but I actually give a damn about space flight, NASA, and the future!

[@VulcanGamesReal]

***** i agree with you completely, but i still say it is best to retire the orbiters before they get too old. I am however looking forward to SLS. I have also been into the ULA decatur factory. Delta IV's are big up close.

[@Hawkeye6936]

Oh but it's all good. We now pay Russia for the ride and the freight charges....Congress has very little clue of the research and experiments being conducted aboard the shuttle or the space station. Metal or drug binding combinations available in zero-G. When a Congressional deligation was briefed in Houston on the Mars Explorer project and it was time for questions and answers, a US Rep for Jax. FL asked if the Mars rover was going to take pictures of the US flag, the lander or the "car" we 'left behind'

[@williamstephens9945]

They started building it in 1987. Wasn't completed until 1991.

[@williamstephens9945]

I think Atlantis was completed in 1984 and Discovery completed in 1983.

[@macieksoft]

The problem with shuttles was the insulation and heatshield tiles falling off. Its a shame that nobody ever managed to fix this issue and now those great ships were simply wasted... With the end of shuttle program an important era in space engineery ended. Its bad that we will never gonna see cockpits with hundreeds of switches and magnetic indicators. The sucky touchscreens are coming in and screwing everything... I wish we at least had open source fully realistic simulation of it... Just like we have for Apollo...

[@kemokodiarra7899]

Endeavour est pour moi un humain qui a réussit sa vie. Je rêve de lui rendre visite un jour et je dirais que ce sera aussi pour moi le plus grand bonheur de ma vie. Aidez moi à la rendre visite avant de mourir.

[@ScrotusXL]

This is the input output channel, when you’re really close you’re far apart!? What are you talking about?

[@takerkanefan108]

I don't recall the shuttle having solar arrays, how did it sustain power in orbit?

[@MikeKillian]

takerkanefan108 APU

[@Freq412]

Fuel Cells

[@macieksoft]

Fuel cells were for power, shuttle could also be powered from ISS. APU was not for power but for hydraulics, it was used mainly during landing and IIRC also during liftoff. On orbit APU was shut down as control surfaces were not needed. There were 3 fuel cells that used oxygen and hydrogen stored in cryo tanks. As result of reaction power and water were produced, water could be then use by the crew.

[@macieksoft]

Regarding APU from SCOM: "Three identical, but independent, improved auxiliary power units (APUs; also called IAPUs) provide power for the orbiter hydraulic systems. The APU is a hydrazine-fueled, turbine-driven power unit that generates mechanical shaft power to drive a hydraulic pump that produces pressure for the orbiter’s hydraulic system. Each unit weighs about 88 pounds and produces 135 horsepower. "

[@ALFREDOARUIZS]

por favor traducir al español....

[@obiwanduglobi6359]

6:47 J.R. Ewing? ;-)

[@dave430usmc]

And duh... we would ah... and ah... umm ahh,.ummm that’s the ummm... 😂

[@Ryan19812012]

The made a huge mistake to retire space shuttle Endeavour. The flight deck seems pretty cool it has only 25 flights. They should had kept it flying to achieve its 40 flights. It's not right.

[@davidodonovan4982]

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Criticism_of_the_Space_Shuttle_program

[@Peachcreekmedia]

The interview was more valuable than the video.

[@Perich29]

Elon musk could have bought one of the space shuttle, and install Raptor engine on the space shuttle, and use his booster that would be used on the spaceX starship.

[@joe92]

Sure. Because it all goes together like Legos.

[@nubevoladora3156]

No puedo respirar

[@jacoblamon396]

Hmmm, he failed to say a word about the Throttle. I see no throttle control

[@blaketoomay8716]

Jacob Lamon I hope you aren’t serious

[@graxx1451]

Why such poor quality video on such an important shoot???

[@thebomb78]

Compare this to the Space X shuttle which has 3 touch screens n a few buttons!

[@DaveInBridport]

Why isn't it weightless in there?

[@sailorman8668]

Was that actually a serious question?

[@DaveInBridport]

Sailor Man No. Not at all.

[@donaldparlettjr3295]

Hey, hey,hey ,it's a new administration and they want space back. SpaceX is finally coming along. It's time for terra firma on other planets and a return to the moon.

[@relikvija]

the shuttle looks complicated and sophisticated but it's actually pretty stupid and primitive.

[@apollo4619]

relikvija Yeah the worlds first reusable spacecraft that served 30 years is “stupid”

[@bigpianoguy]

You have a better one? If by 'stupid' you mean it doesn't work like Star Trek, then you're right; but you should learn the difference between 'reality' and 'fantasy'...

[@Derail07]

I know right.. all it needs is one IPad to run the whole ship.

[@joe92]

Somebody has no idea what they're talking about.

[@ScrotusXL]

This bloke has no idea what he is talking about! "This is the input output?!?" Ffs

[@leonsepmig5475]

nice