# Atlantis

> American Space Shuttle orbiter

**Wikidata**: [Q54381](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q54381)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle_Atlantis)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/atlantis

## Summary
Atlantis was a NASA Space Shuttle orbiter that operated from 1985 to 2011, serving as a reusable spacecraft for human spaceflight missions. It conducted 33 missions, including the final flight of the Space Shuttle program (STS-135), and played a key role in constructing the International Space Station (ISS). Atlantis is preserved at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex.

## Key Facts
- **Type**: Space Shuttle orbiter (OV-104), reusable crewed spacecraft.
- **Operator**: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- **Manufacturer**: Rockwell International.
- **Serial Number**: OV-104.
- **Named After**: RV *Atlantis*, a 1930s research vessel.
- **Dimensions**:
  - Length: 37.24 meters
  - Wingspan: 23.79 meters
  - Height: 17.25 meters
  - Empty weight: 74,844 kilograms
- **Operational Period**: 1985–2011 (first flight: October 3, 1985; last flight: July 8, 2011).
- **Missions**: 33 flights, completing 4,848 orbits.
- **Total Distance Traveled**: 202,673,974 kilometers.
- **Crew Capacity**: 5–7 astronauts.
- **Payload Capacity**: Up to 24,400 kg to low Earth orbit.
- **Engines**: 3 RS-25 liquid-fueled engines.
- **Retirement**: Final mission (STS-135) marked the end of the Space Shuttle program.
- **Current Location**: Displayed at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex since 2013.

## FAQs
### Q: What was Atlantis' role in the Space Shuttle program?
A: Atlantis conducted 33 missions, including satellite deployments, ISS assembly, and the final Shuttle flight (STS-135) in 2011. It also supported U.S.-Russia cooperation, such as docking with the Mir space station.

### Q: What were Atlantis' most notable missions?
A: Key missions included STS-71 (first Shuttle-Mir docking, 1995), STS-79 (longest Shuttle flight at 16 days, 1996), and STS-135 (program finale, 2011). It deployed the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory (1991) and serviced the Hubble Space Telescope (2009).

### Q: Why was Atlantis retired?
A: Atlantis and the Shuttle fleet were retired in 2011 due to high operational costs and a shift toward commercial crew programs and deep-space exploration via the Space Launch System (SLS).

### Q: Where is Atlantis now?
A: Atlantis is permanently displayed at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida, mounted vertically with replica rocket boosters and an external tank.

### Q: How does Atlantis differ from other orbiters?
A: Atlantis flew fewer missions than Discovery (33 vs. 39) but conducted the final Shuttle flight. It was the first orbiter to dock with the ISS (1995) and held the record for the longest single Shuttle mission (16 days, 1996).

## Why It Matters
Atlantis symbolized the culmination of the Space Shuttle era, which revolutionized reusable spacecraft and enabled the ISS’s construction. Its missions advanced scientific research, international collaboration, and space technology, paving the way for modern programs like SpaceX’s Crew Dragon. As the final orbiter to fly, Atlantis marked the transition from government-led spaceflight to commercial and deep-space initiatives.

## Notable For
- **Final Shuttle Mission**: Flew STS-135 in 2011, ending the 30-year Space Shuttle program.
- **ISS Assembly**: Conducted 12 ISS docking missions, delivering critical modules like the U.S. Destiny laboratory.
- **Longest Shuttle Flight**: STS-79 (1996) lasted 16 days, 5 hours, and 47 minutes.
- **Hubble Servicing**: Upgraded the Hubble Space Telescope during STS-125 (2009).
- **Historic Docking**: First Shuttle-Mir docking (STS-71, 1995), symbolizing post-Cold War U.S.-Russia cooperation.
- **Public Display**: Over 5 million visitors have viewed Atlantis at the Kennedy Space Center since 2013.

## Body
### Design and Specifications
Atlantis was a winged, reusable spacecraft with a 37.24-meter fuselage, 23.79-meter wingspan, and 17.25-meter vertical tail. Built by Rockwell International, it featured a thermal protection system (TPS) to withstand re-entry temperatures and three RS-25 engines producing 1.8 meganewtons of thrust. Its payload bay could carry up to 24,400 kg to low Earth orbit, supporting satellites, ISS components, and scientific equipment.

### Operational History
- **Maiden Flight**: Launched on STS-51-J (October 3, 1985), a classified Department of Defense mission.
- **Notable Missions**:
  - **STS-71 (1995)**: First Shuttle-Mir docking, transferring cosmonauts and cargo.
  - **STS-79 (1996)**: 16-day mission to Mir, setting the Shuttle duration record.
  - **STS-110 (2002)**: Delivered the ISS’s S0 truss, a critical structural component.
  - **STS-125 (2009)**: Final Hubble servicing mission, upgrading the telescope’s instruments.
  - **STS-135 (2011)**: Final Shuttle flight, delivering supplies to the ISS.
- **Crews**: Carried 159 astronauts, including John Glenn (STS-95, 1998), who flew again at age 77.

### Legacy and Influence
Atlantis’ reusability demonstrated cost-effective space access, influencing SpaceX’s Dragon and Boeing’s Starliner. Its ISS missions enabled continuous human presence in space, while Hubble upgrades expanded astronomical knowledge. The orbiter’s retirement spurred NASA’s focus on Artemis lunar missions and commercial crew partnerships.

### Current Status
Atlantis is displayed at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, suspended as if in flight with replica solid rocket boosters and an external tank. The exhibit includes interactive displays, a 15-story digital screen showing mission footage, and artifacts like astronaut helmets and mission patches. Over 5 million visitors have viewed the orbiter since its 2013 unveiling.

### Related Entities
- **Space Shuttle Program**: NASA’s 1981–2011 initiative for reusable spacecraft.
- **Rockwell International**: Prime contractor for Atlantis’ construction.
- **International Space Station (ISS)**: Primary destination for Atlantis’ later missions.
- **Hubble Space Telescope**: Deployed by Discovery (STS-31) but serviced by Atlantis (STS-125).
- **Mir Space Station**: Russian orbital complex docked with Atlantis in 1995.
- **SpaceX Dragon**: Commercial spacecraft influenced by Shuttle-era reusability concepts.

## References

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