1] Space Shuttle Atlantis (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-104): is a Space Shuttle orbiter belonging to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the space flight and space exploration agency of the United States. Constructed by the Rockwell International company in Southern California and delivered to the Kennedy Space Center in Eastern Florida in April 1985, Atlantis is the fourth operational and the second-to-last Space Shuttle built. Its maiden flight was STS-51-J from 3 to 7 October 1985.
STS-134 by Endeavour was expected to be the final flight before STS-135 was authorized in October 2010. Atlantis embarked on its 33rd and final mission, also the final mission of a space shuttle, STS-135, on 8 July 2011.
By the end of its final mission, Atlantis had orbited the Earth a total of 4,848 times, traveling nearly 126,000,000 mi (203,000,000 km) or more than 525 times the distance from the Earth to the Moon.
Atlantis is named after RV Atlantis, a two-masted sailing ship that operated as the primary research vessel for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution from 1930 to 1966.
Atlantis flew 33 missions and was the last Space Shuttle to fly.
2] Space Shuttle Discovery (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-103) is one of the orbiters from ASA’s NASA's Space Shuttle Program and the third of five fully operational orbiters to be built. Its first mission, STS-41-D, flew from August 30 to September 5, 1984. Over 27 years of service it launched and landed 39 times, gathering more space flights than any other spacecraft to date.
Discovery became the third operational orbiter to enter service, preceded by Columbia and Challenger. It embarked on its last mission, STS-133, on February 24, 2011 and touched down for the final time at Kennedy Space Center on March 9, having spent a cumulative total of almost a full year in space. Discovery performed both research and International Space Station (ISS) assembly missions. It also carried the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit. Discovery was the first operational shuttle to be retired, followed by Endeavour and then Atlantis.
By its last mission, Discovery had flown 149 million miles (238 million km) in 39 missions, completed 5,830 orbits, and spent 365 days in orbit over 27 years.[27] Discovery flew more flights than any other Orbiter Shuttle, including four in 1985 alone. Discovery flew all three "return to flight" missions after the Challenger and Columbia disasters: STS-26 in 1988, STS-114 in 2005, and STS-121 in 2006. Discovery flew the ante-penultimate mission of the Space Shuttle program, STS-133, having launched on February 24, 2011. Endeavour flew STS-134 and Atlantis performed STS-135, NASA's last Space Shuttle mission. On February 24, 2011, Space Shuttle Discovery launched from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39-A to begin its final orbital flight.
Discovery flew 39 missions.
3] Space Shuttle Endeavour (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-105) is a retired orbiter from NASA's Space Shuttle program and the fifth and final operational shuttle built. It embarked on its first mission, STS-49, in May 1992 and its 25th and final mission, STS-134, in May 2011. STS-134 was expected to be the final mission of the Space Shuttle program, but with the authorization of STS-135, Atlantis became the last shuttle to fly.
Endeavour flew its final mission, STS-134, to the International Space Station (ISS) in May 2011. After the conclusion of STS-134, Endeavour was formally decommissioned.
STS-134 was intended to launch in late 2010, but on July 1 NASA released a statement saying the Endeavour mission was rescheduled for February 27, 2011.
Endeavour landed at the Kennedy Space Center at 06:34 UTC on June 1, 2011, completing its final mission. It was the 25th night landing of a shuttle. Over its flight career, Endeavour flew 122,883,151 miles and spent 299 days in space. During Endeavour's last mission, the Russian spacecraft Soyuz TMA-20 departed from the ISS and paused at a distance of 200 meters. Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli took a series of photographs and videos of the ISS with Endeavour docked. This was the second time a shuttle was photographed docked and the first time since 1996. Commander Mark Kelly was the last astronaut off Endeavour after the landing, and the crew stayed on the landing strip to sign autographs and pose for pictures.
STS-134 was the penultimate space shuttle mission; STS-135 was added to the schedule in January 2011, and in July Atlantis flew for the final time.
Endeavour flew 25 missions.
Size
This larger NASA Space Shuttle Orbiter [STS] Atlantis, Discovery or Endeavour with/Boosters Stack 1/200 Scale Model is sized at:
Model Height approx 312mm, 12 1/4" inches and Width approx 157mm, 6 3/8" inches.
No. of Parts 60.
Shipping
Shipping within Australia is included and Worldwide for a nominal fee as my gift to you.
This is a great buy and offering for International, UK, US, European and Asia Pacific Collectors.
Conclusion
A must have beautiful quality Model of World, NASA and U.S. Space Agency History.
Make this NASA Space Shuttle Orbiter [STS] Atlantis, Discovery or Endeavour with/Boosters Stack 1/200 Scale Model yours!
Collectors' Hint - What are my choices with Plastic Model purchasing and collecting?
It is the nature of the Space and Aviation market that Space and Aircraft Model Kits of important space or aviation vehicles tend to be limited in production or alternatively sell very quickly. Two different examples are the premier Apollo 11 kits or the P-51 Mustang.
Many model kits are 're-launched' on significant anniversaries.
Typically, the two key choices when purchasing plastic model kits are:
i) Make the Plastic Model or
ii) Preserve the Plastic Model 'pristine' in its box and with all original plans and parts for the future.
The former choice i) provides the enjoyment and satisfaction of model making, more so when they are rare or unusual models.
The latter choice ii) can sometimes result in a purchase worth thousands of dollars in later years or decades. There are hundreds of examples.
Of course a 3rd choice is to benefit from both and purchase two models!
Limited Editions are exceptional examples!
Photograph Credits:
Photo 1 - An example of how beautiful the completed NASA Space Shuttle Orbiter [STS] Atlantis, Discovery or Endeavour with/Boosters Stack, Model can look. Note the Launch Base which is included.
Photo 2 - The stunning NASA Space Shuttle Orbiter [STS] Atlantis, Discovery or Endeavour with/Boosters Stack 1/200 Scale Model box
Photos 3 - 4 The associated parts of the NASA Space Shuttle Orbiter [STS] Atlantis, Discovery or Endeavour with/Boosters Stack - Model
Photo 5 - Another example of how beautiful the completed NASA Space Shuttle Orbiter [STS] Atlantis, Discovery or Endeavour with/Boosters Stack Model
Photo 6 - A stunning 'in orbit' image of the STS Atlantis [courtesy NASA not included
Photo 7 - A outstanding image of the STS Discovery performing it's launch roll maneuver to orbit inclination' [courtesy NASA not included]
Photo 8 - A beautiful detailed image of the STS Endeavour 'docked with the International Space Space Station ISS' [courtesy NASA not included]
Photo 9 - Another image of the stunning NASA Space Shuttle Orbiter [STS] Atlantis, Discovery or Endeavour with/Boosters Stack Model Box
Please remember to 'click' Visit Store to see the many other great offerings inside Space and Aviation Firsts.
'A Passion in Life is a Life Well Lived!
Kind Regards