page_title: Rendezvous pitch maneuver
hierarchical_section_title: Rendezvous pitch maneuver
caption_attribution_description: English: Discovery begins the nine-minute Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver, or 'backflip,' on its last visit to the International Space Station. This view of the nose, crew cabin and forward payload bay of the space shuttle Discovery was provided by an Expedition 27 crew member during a survey of the approaching STS-134 vehicle prior to docking with the International Space Station. As part of the survey and part of every mission's activities, Endeavour performed a back-flip for the rendezvous pitch maneuver (RPM). The image was photographed with a digital still camera, using a 400mm lens at a distance of about 600 feet (180 meters). Polski: Prom Endeavour, rozpoczyna dziewięcio minutowy Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver, lub "backflip", podczas jego ostaniej wizyty na Międzynarodowej Stacji Kosmicznej. Zdjęcie dziobu, kabiny załogi i przedniej części komory ładunkowej wahadłowca Endeavour, wykonali członkowie 27 ekspedycji, podczas przeglądu osłony termicznej promu. Od katastrofy promu Columbia, a konkretnie od STS-114 począwszy, takie przeglądy stały się standardami pozostałych misji. Zdjęcie zostało wykonane z odległości 180 metrów aparatem cyfrowym uzbrojonym w obiektyw 400 mm.
context_page_description: The R-bar pitch maneuver, popularly called the rendezvous pitch maneuver, was a maneuver performed by the Space Shuttle as it rendezvoused with the International Space Station prior to docking. The Shuttle performed a backflip that exposed its heat-shield to the crew of the ISS that made photographs of it. Based on the information gathered during the rendezvous pitch maneuver, the mission team could decide that the orbiter was not safe for re-entry. They may have then decided either to wait on the ISS for a rescue mission or attempt extra-vehicular activity to repair the heat shield and secure the safe re-entry of the orbiter. This was a standard procedure recommended by CAIB for all space shuttles docking to the International Space Station after a damaged heat shield caused the Columbia disaster.
context_section_description: The  R-bar pitch maneuver (RPM), popularly called the  rendezvous pitch maneuver, was a maneuver performed by the Space Shuttle as it rendezvoused with the International Space Station (ISS) prior to docking. The Shuttle performed a backflip that exposed its heat-shield to the crew of the ISS that made photographs of it. Based on the information gathered during the rendezvous pitch maneuver, the mission team could decide that the orbiter was not safe for re-entry. They may have then decided either to wait on the ISS for a rescue mission or attempt extra-vehicular activity to repair the heat shield and secure the safe re-entry of the orbiter. This was a standard procedure recommended by CAIB for all space shuttles docking to the International Space Station after a damaged heat shield caused the Columbia disaster.
caption: The Space Shuttle Discovery performing the rendezvous pitch maneuver during STS-114.
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