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Atlantis
Part of Shuttle
Shuttle Orbiter
Shuttle Orbiter
Shuttle Orbiter side view
Credit: © Mark Wade
American manned spaceplane. The space shuttle Atlantis was the fourth orbiter to become operational at Kennedy Space Center, and the last of the original production run.

AKA: OV-104. Status: Operational 1985. First Launch: 1985-10-03. Last Launch: 2011-07-08. Number: 33 . Payload: 24,990 kg (55,090 lb). Thrust: 53.37 kN (11,997 lbf). Gross mass: 115,900 kg (255,500 lb). Unfuelled mass: 103,488 kg (228,151 lb). Specific impulse: 316 s. Height: 37.24 m (122.17 ft). Span: 23.79 m (78.05 ft).

It was named after the primary research vessel for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts from 1930 to 1966. Empty Weight was 68,600 kg at rollout and 77,550 kg with main engines installed.

Atlantis benefited from lessons learned in the construction and testing of Enterprise, Columbia and Challenger. At roll-out, its weight was 3162 kg less than Columbia. The experience gained during the orbiter assembly process enabled Atlantis to be completed with a 49.5 percent reduction in man hours (compared to Columbia). Much of this decrease was attributed to the greater use of thermal protection blankets on the upper orbiter body instead of tiles. During the construction of Discovery and Atlantis, NASA opted to have the various contractors manufacture a set of 'structural spares' to facilitate the repair of an orbiter if one was damaged during an accident. This contract was valued at $389 million and consisted of a spare aft-fuselage, mid-fuselage, forward fuselage halves, vertical tail and rudder, wings, elevons and a body flap. These spares were later assembled into the orbiter Endeavour.

Construction Milestones

Beginning in October 1992, Atlantis was shipped to California to undergo OMDP-1 upgrades and modifications. These included a drag chute, new plumbing lines that configured the orbiter for extended duration, more than 800 new heat protection tiles and blankets, new insulation for the main landing gear doors, and structural modifications to the Atlantis airframe. Altogether, 165 modifications were made to Atlantis over the 20 months it spent in Palmdale, California.

Between November 1997 and September 1998, Atlantis underwent OMDP-2 in Palmdale to prepare it for operational ISS missions. Changes included installation of the final configuration ISS airlock and docking system and installation of the first 'glass cockpit' electronic displays for the crew. The latter replaced the 1970's vintage conventional gauges and instruments. Modifications were made in preparation for replacement of TACAN navigation with GPS. To reduce weight for ISS missions, most AFRSI insulation blankets on the upper surfaces of the orbiter were replaced with FRSI, lightweight crew seats were installed, the Extended Duration Mission provisions installed during OMDP-1 were removed, and numerous other smaller-scale changes aimed at reducing weight.

Crew Size: 7. Orbital Storage: 30 days. Habitable Volume: 71.50 m3. Structure: 29,280 kg (64,550 lb). Heat shield: 12,100 kg (26,600 lb). Reaction Control System: 2,800 kg (6,100 lb). Recovery Equipment: 4,200 kg (9,200 lb). Navigation Equipment: 2,000 kg (4,400 lb). Electrical Equipment: 7,000 kg (15,400 lb). Communications Systems: 700 kg (1,540 lb). Crew Seats and Provisions: 750 kg (1,650 lb). Miscellaneous Contingency: 2,400 kg (5,200 lb). Environmental Control System: 2,500 kg (5,500 lb). RCS Coarse No x Thrust: 38 x 387 N. RCS Fine No x Thrust: 6 x 107 N. RCS specific impulse: 289 sec. RCS total impulse: 9,355 kgf-sec. Spacecraft delta v: 700 m/s (2,290 ft/sec). Electric System: 3,100.00 kWh. Electric System: 14.00 average kW.



Family: Spaceplane, US Rocketplanes. Country: USA. Engines: OME. Spacecraft: ISS, Mir. Flights: STS-51-J, STS-61-B, STS-27, STS-30, STS-34, STS-36, STS-38, STS-37, STS-43, STS-44, STS-45, STS-46, STS-66, STS-71, STS-74, STS-76, STS-79, STS-81, STS-84, STS-86, STS-101, STS-106, STS-98, STS-104, STS-110, STS-112, STS-115, STS-117, STS-122, STS-125, STS-129, STS-132, STS-135. Launch Vehicles: Space Shuttle. Propellants: N2O4/MMH. Projects: STS. Launch Sites: Cape Canaveral, Cape Canaveral LC39A, Cape Canaveral LC39B. Agency: NASA, North American. Bibliography: 15, 2, 276, 296, 3132, 33, 44, 552, 554, 6, 66, 7, 8.
Photo Gallery

STS-51-BSTS-51-B
Credit: Manufacturer Image


STS-51-JSTS-51-J
Lift-off of first flight of Atlantis and the STS 51-J mission
Credit: NASA


STS-51-JSTS-51-J
Landing of the Shuttle Atlantis and the end of the STS 51-J mission
Credit: NASA


STS-51-JSTS-51-J
Landing of the Shuttle Atlantis and the end of the STS 51-J mission
Credit: NASA


STS-27STS-27
STS-27 Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104, lift-off
Credit: NASA


STS-27STS-27
STS-27 Atlantis, OV-104, crewmembers repair 3/4 inch video reel on middeck
Credit: NASA


STS-30STS-30
STS-30 Atlantis, OV-104, lifts off from KSC LC Pad 39B
Credit: NASA


STS-30STS-30
STS-30 Magellan spacecraft & IUS deployment from Atlantis' payload bay (PLB)
Credit: NASA


STS-30STS-30
STS-30 Magellan spacecraft & IUS deployment from Atlantis' payload bay (PLB)
Credit: NASA


STS-30STS-30
STS-30 Atlantis, OV-104, glides toward landing at EAFB, California
Credit: NASA


STS-34STS-34
STS-34 Atlantis, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 104, lifts off from KSC LC Pad 39B
Credit: NASA


STS-36STS-36
STS-36 Atlantis, OV-104, rollout is framed in a VAB door opening at KSC
Credit: NASA


STS-36STS-36
Aerial view of STS-36 Atlantis, OV-104, at KSC LC Pad 39A with T-38A in-flight
Credit: NASA


STS-36STS-36
STS-36 Atlantis, OV-104, lifts off from KSC LC Pad 39A into darkness
Credit: NASA


STS-36STS-36
STS-36 Commander Creighton skis on the middeck of Atlantis, OV-104
Credit: NASA


STS-36STS-36
STS-36 Atlantis, OV-104, glides above EAFB Runway 23 prior to landing
Credit: NASA


STS-38STS-38
STS-38 Atlantis, OV-104, lifting off from KSC LC Pad during night launch
Credit: NASA


STS-38STS-38
STS-38 Atlantis, OV-104, lifts off from KSC LC Pad during night launch
Credit: NASA



1985 October 3 - . 15:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1985 November 27 - . 00:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1985 November 29 - .
1985 December 1 - .
1986 May - .
1986 August - .
1986 November - .
1987 January - .
1987 March - .
1988 July - .
1988 December 2 - . 14:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1989 May 4 - . 18:47 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1989 October 18 - . 16:53 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1990 February 28 - . 07:50 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1990 November 15 - . 23:48 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1991 April 5 - . 14:22 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1991 April 7 - .
1991 April 8 - .
1991 August 2 - . 15:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1991 November 24 - . 23:44 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1992 March 24 - . 13:13 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1992 July 31 - . 13:56 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1992 October 1 - . LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1994 November 3 - . 16:59 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP3. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1995 June 27 - . 19:32 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP3. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1995 November 12 - . 12:30 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1996 March 22 - . 08:13 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1996 September 16 - . 08:54 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1997 January 12 - . 09:27 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1997 May 15 - . 08:07 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1997 September 26 - . 02:34 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
1997 November 1 - . LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2000 May 19 - . 10:11 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP1. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2000 September 8 - . 12:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2001 February 7 - . 23:13 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. Launch Platform: MLP2. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2001 July 12 - . 09:03 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2002 April 8 - . 20:44 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2002 October 7 - . 19:46 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2004 January 15 - .
Spring 2006 - .
2006 September 9 - . 15:15 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39B. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
Late 2006 - .
2007 June 8 - . 23:38 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
Mid-2007 - .
2008 February 7 - . 19:45 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2009 May 11 - . 18:02 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2009 November 16 - . 19:28 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2010 May 14 - . 18:20 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.
2011 July 8 - . 15:29 GMT - . Launch Site: Cape Canaveral. Launch Complex: Cape Canaveral LC39A. LV Family: Shuttle. Launch Vehicle: Space Shuttle.

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