Space shuttle Atlantis to fly final flight with booster segment from maiden mission
http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-051010a.htmlWhen space shuttle Atlantis lifts off later this week on what NASA has planned to be its final flight, helping to launch it will be a rocket booster segment that first flew 25 years ago on the orbiter's maiden mission.
The aft dome on the left solid rocket booster scheduled to loft Atlantis' STS-132 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) Friday, May 14, first launched STS-51J, the orbiter's first flight to space, on Oct. 3, 1985.
The almost quarter-century reunion between Atlantis and its reusable solid rocket booster's casing is just one of the historical connections between the orbiter and its launch system. Including STS-132, 18 of Atlantis' 32 flights are represented by the boosters' segments, underscoring the legacy that NASA's fourth-to-fly orbiter will leave after it is retired...
Great article Robert. There is some truly amazing and history filled hardware involved. So sad to think it is all coming to an end. Not due to the hardware breaking or reaching the point of old age. Simply because we decided not to use it anymore. Seems tragic to me. Sorry for moping over such a nice article.
That's some nice history there Robert. Has no idea about the reunion.
Great info, thanks for sharing
Cool
Very, very cool!
I've always wondered how often these casings get reused. I have a book dedicated to Challenger's flights. In the back is a chart detailing flight history of the casings from each of her flights.
If desired I could post details (in a more dedicated thread perhaps).
Does any body know where there might be similar details for other flights? ( in shuttle Q&A or L2 ?).
Thanks.