#spaceshuttleatlantis — Public Fediverse posts

#NASA’s #SpaceShuttle #Atlantis being moved from one of the Orbiter Processing Facilities to the Vehicle Assembly Building.
The forward Reaction Control System Pod (#RCS) is missing, since it was fueled by toxic fuel and required decontamination.
While it was missing, transparent foil took its place, leaving the #Orbiter’s nose looking a bit odd.

Get a print or other item with this image at https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/atlantis-forward-rcs-pod-missing-heron-and-fox.html

#SpaceShuttleAtlantis #KennedySpaceCenter #KSC #RCSPod #Spacecraft #Photography

After #NASA retired the #Space #Shuttle in 2011, they planned to send the #Orbiters to museums. To get them ready, NASA removed the #SSME #rocket #engines and replaced them with replicas and decontaminated the parts of the Orbiter that held toxic fuel for in-space maneuvering, then be put on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

In this #photograph, #Atlantis (closer on the left) and #Endeavour (on the right) have been brought nose-to-nose for #photographers and #journalists to tell the story of the Shuttle’s #retirement.

Get a print of this image, or other merchandise, at https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/atlantis-and-endeavour-meet-2-heron-and-fox.html

#SpaceShuttle, #SpaceShuttleOrbiter, #SpaceShuttleAtlantis, #SpaceShuttleEndeavour, #KennedySpaceCenter, #KSC, #spacecraft, #Photography

This #docking system was originally designed for the Apollo-Soyuz Test project in which an American Apollo and Soviet Soyuz spacecraft met in orbit and docked.
The #APAS, Androgynous Peripheral Attach System, can dock to any other APAS system, unlike a probe-and-drogue system.
The Soviets continued developing the system for their Mir station and Buran shuttle.
However, instead of a Soviet shuttle docking to Mir, it was the American Space Shuttle.
In a post-Cold War show of friendship, the #SpaceShuttle was modified with a docking collar meant for another vehicle and used it to visit Mir and deliver supplies and help change crews.

This #photograph was taken at the #Atlantis #museum, where Atlantis is on display at Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex.

Get a print or other merchandise at https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/view-of-atlantis-apas-docking-system-1-heron-and-fox.html

#SpaceShuttleAtlantis, #AtlantisMuseum, #DockingSystem, #Photography