A full-scale model of the Hubble Space Telescope, as well as spacewalkers, decorate the interior (one of the astronaut mockups even rides at the tip of a Canadarm). The most prominent is the exterior, full-scale model of the external tank and twin rocket boosters that helped propel the shuttles into the black on 135 separate occasions. There are several other models of elements of the shuttle’s 30-year history throughout the exhibit. The wrap was removed just a couple months before the grand opening, the orbiter’s payload bay doors were opened (and supported as the doors cannot support their own weight in Earth’s gravity), and a mockup of Atlantis’ robotic Canadarm was put into place, arcing out over one of the many walkways around the shuttle. Cocooned in the same type of plastic used when boats are moved across land, Atlantis’ Exhibit was built around the orbiter. Through a highly orchestrated series of maneuvers, the orbiter was raised 30 feet up into an inclination of 43.21 degrees. There are a number of other activities dedicated to kids within Atlantis’ new home (Credits: Jason Rhian / AmericaSpace). Placed high in the air, the tube provides children with a unique vantage point of the facility. One (seen here) is a tube that children can take across two points in the exhibit. The exhibit has several elements that are geared for children. Once at the Visitor Complex, the real work began. The orbiter was transferred over to the Visitor Complex in November of last year. It concluded the 30-year program with a safe touchdown at the Kennedy Space Center’s Shuttle Landing Facility in July 2011. “Change isn’t easy, but seeing Atlantis’ amazing exhibit … it makes it a lot easier.”Īs stated earlier, Atlantis flew the final mission of the shuttle era, STS-135. “To get to something better, you have to have change,” Cabana said. Also on hand were several astronauts signing autographs these included Mike Mullane, Brewster Shaw, Ken Ham, and the commander of the last shuttle missions, STS-135 (which Atlantis conducted), Chris Ferguson.įor several of the astronauts in attendance, the event was a bittersweet one. Throughout a large portion of the day, astronauts were available to pose with guests in front of one of the astrovans, which ferried crews out to the pad. The structure was built around the Shuttle Launch Experience, which guests can enter from inside the Atlantis Exhibit, adding more entertainment opportunities for attendees (Credits: John Studwell / AmericaSpace). While there were plenty of sights and sounds (some 60 interactive displays, multimedia presentations, and virtual-reality booths were waiting for them), there were other special attractions that were made available.Ītlantis is at an inclination of 43.21 degrees (think of the iconic launch countdown). The first Visitor Complex guests were allowed into the exhibit at around 10:15 a.m. DNC plans for the Atlantis Exhibit to be the centerpiece of the complex’s 10-year plan. The media was then escorted inside to have the opportunity to photograph the various astronauts giving their impressions of the new exhibit. The opening was kicked off by a mock “launch”-with a pyrotechnic display. It’s been an emotional experience, but seeing the reactions on the public’s faces as they came in made it worth it.” I ended up as a project lead for orbiter processing when the program closed. I consider myself fortunate to have worked on all the shuttle missions from the first to the last. “I started out as a technician working the original build of Columbia, and then I became a supervisor while we were still processing STS-1. “I worked on shuttle for a little over 33 years, and to be a part of the team that prepared them for flight … it’s just amazing to be a part of that history,” said Terry White, one of the legions of workers who cared for the shuttle. One of the more well-known space workers in attendance expressed his recollections of the shuttle era as well as what today was like for him. We’ve crammed them in here I doubt we got them all, but hopefully, through the rehearsals and all, we got as many as we could,” Moore said. We wanted as many of the space workers as the building could hold to attend. “I don’t know the total number of invitations we sent out, but NASA had a list and we had a list. Saturday’s event was no exception, with a variety of nationalities and religions attending the historic grand opening (Credits: Jason Rhian / AmericaSpace). The Visitor Complex hosts guests from points across the globe.
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