She's looking really good again now the wrap's been taken off! Even with a plain black background as shown in the photo, this exhibit would draw in the crowds. Roll on June...
Revealing Atlantis: Shrink-wrapped space shuttle uncovered for displayhttp://www.collectspace.com/news/news-042513a.htmlHow do you un-shrink-wrap a space shuttle?As workers at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex learned Thursday (April 25), very slowly and very carefully.NASA's retired space shuttle Atlantis, which since November has been covered in 16,000 square feet (1,486 square meters) of white plastic was partially revealed Thursday at the Florida spaceport's visitor center. The planned day-long process to unwrap the orbiter stretched into two — work will pick up again Friday morning — and required cherry pickers, vacuum cleaners, box cutters and patience."This is the very first step in unveiling Atlantis," said Tim Macy, director of project development and construction for Delaware North Parks and Resorts, which runs the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for NASA. "She has been in a plastic 16-millimeter-thick cocoon."Photo gallery: http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-042513a.html
It would still be neat to have to rappel into the cargo bay, then crawl threw the airlock to get inside, since the main hatch is not accessible. Can anyone confirm this?
There was another hatch that goes from the crew module to the external airlock -- if that's open or no longer installed, then maybe it's plausible; if that's there and it's closed and locked, I don't think you're getting much farther than the faux airlock.
It would still be neat to have to rappel into the cargo bay...
Will they paint the beams holding her or are they planning on doing anything to make the beams less just steel beams looking?