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Friday, June 3, 2011

So, where's the ignition switch? Endeavour's mind-boggling cockpit controls revealed in all their glory

With hundreds of switches and buttons, and pieces of paper stuck to various hard surfaces, this is the somewhat chaotic cockpit of space shuttle Endeavour.

Commander Mark Kelly and Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori sit on the flight deck during what was the Nasa vessel's final mission.

With equipment strapped in place all around them, including a device taped to the back of a seat, the pair are jammed into their seats at the controls of the $2.2billion ship.

The cockpit is so crammed full of electronics, the astronauts are unable to stand when they climb in and out of their seats.

Cluttered cockpit: Commander Mark Kelly and Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori sit on Endeavour's flight deck during what was the Nasa vessel's final mission

Cluttered cockpit: Commander Mark Kelly and Italian astronaut Roberto Vittori sit on Endeavour's flight deck during what was the Nasa vessel's final mission

Endeavour landed at Kennedy Space Center in the early hours of yesterday morning, bringing to an end the penultimate mission in the 30-year shuttle programme.

She touched down on the runway a final time under cover of darkness, just as Atlantis, the last shuttle bound for space, arrived at the launch pad for the grand finale in five weeks.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1393513/Endeavours-mind-boggling-cockpit-controls-revealed-glory.html#ixzz1OG1bXHKN

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