Space Shuttle Atlantis

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Space Shuttle Atlantis (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-104) is a Space Shuttle orbiter belonging to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Atlantis was the fourth operational shuttle built and was delivered to the Kennedy Space Center in April 1985. It was named after the RV Atlantis, a two-masted sailing ship that operated as the primary research vessel for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution from 1930 to 1966.

Design and Development

Atlantis was constructed by Rockwell International in Palmdale, California. The shuttle was designed to be a reusable spacecraft capable of carrying astronauts and cargo to low Earth orbit. It featured a large payload bay, a robotic arm, and the ability to dock with the International Space Station (ISS).

Missions

Atlantis flew a total of 33 missions, including several notable ones:

• STS-51-J - The first flight of Atlantis, a classified mission for the United States Department of Defense.
• STS-61-B - Deployed three communications satellites and conducted experiments.
• STS-71 - The first shuttle mission to dock with the Russian Space Station Mir.
• STS-125 - The final servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope.
• STS-135 - The final flight of the Space Shuttle program.

Retirement

After completing its final mission, STS-135, in July 2011, Atlantis was retired and is now on display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. The shuttle is exhibited in a way that allows visitors to view it as if it were in space, with its payload bay doors open and robotic arm extended.

Legacy

Atlantis played a crucial role in the construction and servicing of the ISS, the deployment of numerous satellites, and the advancement of space science. Its missions have contributed significantly to our understanding of space and have paved the way for future space exploration.

Related Pages

• Space Shuttle program
• Space Shuttle Columbia
• Space Shuttle Challenger
• Space Shuttle Discovery
• Space Shuttle Endeavour
• International Space Station
• Hubble Space Telescope
• NASA

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