After #NASA retired the #Space #Shuttle in 2011, they planned to send the #Orbiters to museums. To get them ready, NASA removed the #SSME #rocket #engines and replaced them with replicas and decontaminated the parts of the Orbiter that held toxic fuel for in-space maneuvering, then be put on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.

In this #photograph, #Atlantis (closer on the left) and #Endeavour (on the right) have been brought nose-to-nose for #photographers and #journalists to tell the story of the Shuttle’s #retirement.

Get a print of this image, or other merchandise, at https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/atlantis-and-endeavour-meet-2-heron-and-fox.html

#SpaceShuttle, #SpaceShuttleOrbiter, #SpaceShuttleAtlantis, #SpaceShuttleEndeavour, #KennedySpaceCenter, #KSC, #spacecraft, #Photography

#NASA’s #Space #Shuttle was designed to #reenter the atmosphere to slow the vehicle from orbital velocity and then glide to its landing. This required a larger heat shield then ever. It was also meant to be re-usable.
The primary part of the #HeatShield are many #silica tiles on the #Orbiter’s belly, with a coating applied that makes them black and more heat-resistant.
This #Photograph is taken after #Endeavour had been refitted for display at the California Science Center in the Orbital Processing Facility and shows the #SpaceShuttle from below and behind.

Get a print or other merchandise at https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/endeavour-in-opf-13-heron-and-fox.html

#SpaceShuttleEndeavour, #KennedySpaceCenter, #KSC, #Li900, #OrbiterProcessingFacility,

When #NASA retired the #Space Shuttle #Orbiters, three institutions received them: Discovery would go to the Smithsonian, Atlantis would be put on display at Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex, and #Endeavour would be flown to the California Science Center.
Here, #Endeavour is being raised up in the Mate-Demate Device, designed to put the #Shuttle on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and remove it.
Get a print or other merchandise at https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/endeavour-nose-and-forward-gear-in-the-mate-demate-device-heron-and-fox.html

#SpaceShuttle, #SpaceShuttleEndeavour, #MateDeMateDevice, #KennedySpaceCenter, #KSC, #Photography

On September 12, 2012, #NASA brought #Space #Shuttle #Endeavour to the Mate-Demate Device; a crane that lifts the #Orbiter to be mounted on, or taken off of, the #Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, which are modified Boeing 747’s.
The yellow bar helps attach the Orbiter to the MDD and has “United Space Alliance” written on the cross-bar.
The USA was formed by Lockheed and Boeing to jointly facilitate #SpaceShuttle maintenance work.
Get a print or other merchandise at https://heronfox.pixels.com/featured/1-endeavour-in-the-mate-demate-device-heron-and-fox.html

#SpaceShuttleEndeavour, #MateDemateDevice, #KennedySpaceCenter, #KSC, #ShuttleOrbiter, #UnitedSpaceAlliance, #Photography

This is how the #SpaceShuttle landed after being in #Space (#4K #Upscaling)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGL1wUI2eEg&ab_channel=WaaSop

#NASA #TheSpaceShuttle #Shuttle #Space #LEO #LowEarthOrbit #Spaceflight #Discovery #Endeavour #SpaceShuttleEndeavour #SpaceShuttleDiscovery #ShuttleLanding #AirForce #EdwardsAirForceBase #Edwards