"The North American X-15 was a rocket-powered research aircraft that was part of the USAF/NASA/USN X-series of experimental aircraft. Designed to explore the problems of flight at very high speeds and altitudes, it bridged the gap between manned flight in the atmosphere and space flight. After its initial test flights in 1959, it became the first winged aircraft to attain hypersonic velocities of Mach 4, 5, and 6 and to operate at altitudes above 30,500 meters. The X-15 and other research aircraft contributed to the advancement of aerospace technology. Three X-15s were built in all, and they made a total of 199 test flights, the last one on October 24, 1968. Plans were made for a 200th X-15 flight to be launched over Smith Ranch, Nevada, scheduled for November 21, 1968. However, various technical and weather delays caused the planned launch to slip at least six times until late December 1968. Finally after a cancellation on December 20, 1968 due to weather, it was decided that there would not be a 200th flight. X-15 #1 was sent to the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC. X-15 #2 is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base near Dayton, Ohio. X-15 #3 was destroyed in a crash on November 15, 1967. Twelve test pilots flew the X-15, including Neil Armstrong, who would later become the first man on the Moon, and Joe Engle, who went on to command Space Shuttle missions. Each X-15 scale model that we offer is made from materials of the highest quality. Every part of the model aircraft is handcrafted before undergoing several phases of priming and sanding. Skilled artists carefully duplicate the details, which are then sealed in with clear lacquer. A faithful reproduction of the original X-15, our replica will be perfect as an addition to a personal collection or as executive gifts and promotional incentives. "
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"Space Shuttle Endeavour is one of the currently operational spacecraft in the Space Shuttle fleet of NASA and was the final NASA space shuttle built. In 1987, Endeavour was authorized by the United States Congress to replace Challenger, which was lost in an accident. Endeavour's assembly was composed of structural spares from the construction of Discovery and Atlantis. Endeavour was named through a national competition comprising of students in elementary and secondary schools. In May 1991, Endeavour was delivered by Rockwell International and was launched a year later. In 1993, Endeavor made its first service mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. In December 2003, Endeavour completed its latest Orbiter Major Modification period and ended on October 6, 2005 and during that time, Endeavor received major hardware upgrades with new, multi-functional, electroncal display system, GPS and with safety upgrades by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. As of August 2007, Endeavour has flown 20 flights, spent 219.35 days in space, completed 3,259 orbits and has flown 85,072,077 miles. In 2010, Space Shuttle Endeavor will be decommissioned after 18 years of service, along with Discovery. "
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"Space Shuttle Endeavour is one of the currently operational spacecraft in the Space Shuttle fleet of NASA and was the final NASA space shuttle built. In 1987, Endeavour was authorized by the United States Congress to replace Challenger, which was lost in an accident. Endeavour's assembly was composed of structural spares from the construction of Discovery and Atlantis. Endeavour was named through a national competition comprising of students in elementary and secondary schools. In May 1991, Endeavour was delivered by Rockwell International and was launched a year later. In 1993, Endeavor made its first service mission to the Hubble Space Telescope. In December 2003, Endeavour completed its latest Orbiter Major Modification period and ended on October 6, 2005 and during that time, Endeavor received major hardware upgrades with new, multi-functional, electroncal display system, GPS and with safety upgrades by the Columbia Accident Investigation Board. As of August 2007, Endeavour has flown 20 flights, spent 219.35 days in space, completed 3,259 orbits and has flown 85,072,077 miles. In 2010, Space Shuttle Endeavor will be decommissioned after 18 years of service, along with Discovery. "
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"Space Shuttle Discovery (Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-103) is one of the three currently operational spacecraft in the Space Shuttle fleet of NASA. When first flown in 1984, Discovery became the third operational orbiter and is now the oldest orbiter in service. Discovery has performed both research and International Space Station (ISS) assembly missions. Discovery was also notable for being named after one of the two ships that were used by British explorer James Cook in the 1770's, during voyages in the South Pacific that led to the discovery of the Hawaiian Islands. Discovery was the shuttle that launched the Hubble Space Telescope. The second and third Hubble service missions were also conducted by Discovery. It has also launched the Ulysses probe and three TDRS satellites. Discovery has been chosen twice as the return to flight orbiter, first in 1988 as the return to flight orbiter after the 1986 Challenger disaster, and then for the twin return to flight missions in July 2005 and July 2006 after the 2003 Columbia disaster. Discovery also carried Project Mercury astronaut John Glenn, who was 77 at the time, back into space during STS-95 on October 29, 1998, making him the oldest human being to venture into space. Discovery is currently in bay 3 of the Orbiter Processing Facility, having concluded a 15-day mission to the International Space Station on November 7, 2007. After the residual cryogenic reactants are offloaded the payload bay doors will be opened and detailed post-flight inspections will begin. According to the current schedule, Space Shuttle Discovery will be decommissioned in 2010. If the Contingency Logistic Flight STS-133 by Endeavour is not flown, Discovery will be the last space shuttle to fly on mission STS-132. NASA expects to launch the Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle on the new Ares I rocket by 2014."
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Space Shuttle, spacecraft designed for transporting humans and cargo to and from orbit around Earth. The United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) developed the shuttle in the 1970s to serve as a reusable rocket and spacecraft.
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"Space Shuttle Atlantis (OV-104) is currently one among the three operational spacecraft in the Space Shuttle fleet of NASA. It was named after the two-masted boat of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts from 1930 to 1966 and it served as the primary research vessel. Atlantis' maiden flight was on October 1985. Atlantis went seven straight flights to the Russian space station Mir. The spacecraft served as the on-orbit launch site for many notable and noteworthy spacecrafts, including planetary probes Magellan and Galileo. In 1991, it deployed the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. Atlantis underwent refitting operations and modifications including the installation of a glass cockpit. Atlantis completed an 11-day mission to the International Space Station, involving three space walks in October 2002. During September 9-24, 2005, Atlantis was scheduled for its 27th launch though the mission was suspended by NASA due to the complications during Discovery's launch of mission STS-114 and there are subsequent suspensions of all future shuttle launches. Atlantis was scheduled to fly the STS-121 mission, but the mission was flown by Discovery instead. In the recent years, Atlantis has delivered several vital components, the U.S. laboratory module, Destiny, the Joint Airlock Quest and multiple sections of the Integrated Truss structure that serves as the backbone of the International Space Station. As of September 2006, Atlantis completed 28 flights, spent 220.40-days in space, completed 3,468 orbits and flown 89,908,732 nautical miles in total. Atlantis is scheduled to remain operational until 2010, the Shuttle program's projected end, but is not currently scheduled for any missions further in 2008. "
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"Space Shuttle Orbiter Atlantis (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-104) is one of the fleet of space shuttles belonging to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). The fourth orbiter to become operational at Kennedy Space Center, it was named after the primary research vessel for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts from 1930 to 1966. The two-masted, 460-ton ketch was the first US vessel to be used for oceanographic research. The spaceship Atlantis has carried on the spirit of the sailing vessel with several important voyages of its own. Atlantis benefitted from lessons learned in the construction and testing of Enterprise, Columbia and Challenger. At rollout, its weight was 6,974 pounds lighter than Columbia. It was also completed with 49.5 percent fewer man hours compared to Columbia. Much of this decrease can be attributed to the greater use of thermal protection blankets on the upper orbiter body instead of tiles. From November 1997 to July 1999, Atlantis underwent 165 modifications, including a drag chute, new plumbing lines, over 800 new heat protection tiles and blankets, and new insulation for the main landing gear doors. Atlantis made its first flight in October 1985, conducting classified military activities. In 1989, it deployed two planetary probes, Magellan and Galileo, and in 1991, it deployed the Arthur Holley Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. Beginning in 1995, Atlantis made seven straight flights to the Russian space station Mir. In October 2002, after a four-year hiatus, the space shuttle and its six-person crew completed the eleven-day STS-115 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) that involved three space walks. On June 8, 2007, Atlantis launched on its longest-ever mission, STS-117, which lasted almost 14 days. The spaceship is scheduled to be retired in 2010 after it completes STS-131, where it will carry the Docking Cargo Module to the ISS. "
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"The Space Shuttle Orbiter formally started on January 5, 1972 by Richard Nixion. The first orbiters were manufactured by Rockwell International and then later by Boeing. The space Shuttle Orbiter was designed to replace the expendable launch vehicles that NASA was using to deliver commercial, scientific and applications spacecraft into Earth's orbit. The Orbiter's main engines and boosters combined allows the orbiter to reach orbit. The orbiter comprises of three primary elements, the first element, a delta-winged orbiter spacecraft having large crew compartment, cargo bay and three main engines, second is its two solid rocket boosters and the third, is an external fuel tank which houses the liquid hydrogen and oxidizer burned in the main engines. The Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) provides orbital maneuvers which includes insertion, circularizattion, transfer, rendezvous, abort to orbit and abort once around. The Reaction Control System (RCS) provides altitude control and translation along the pitch, roll and yaw axes during the flight phases of orbit insertion, orbit and re-entry. The Thermal Protection System (TPS) covers the outside of the Orbiter, for protection against the cold soak of -121 degree Celsius in space to the 1649 degree Celsius heat of re-entry. The Space Shuttle Orbiter's individual fleets are named and numbered similar to ships. All orbiters tend to be externally and identically similar, but they have minor internal differences. The Challenger (OV-099) was destroyed after its liftoff in January 28, 1986. The Eneterprise (OV-101) was used for test landings. The Columbia which was destroyed during reentry in February 1, 2003. And the other orbiters, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavor. As of August 21, 2007, Columbia and Challenger are no longer in service. "
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"The Space Shuttle Orbiter formally started on January 5, 1972 by Richard Nixion. The first orbiters were manufactured by Rocwell International and then later by Boeing. The space Shuttle Orbiter was designed to replace the expendable launch vehicles that NASA was using to deliver commercial, scientific and applications spacecraft into Earth's orbit. The Orbiter's main engines and boosters combined allows the orbiter to reach orbit. The orbiter comprises of three primary elements, the first element, a delta-winged orbiter spacecraft having large crew compartment, cargo bay and three main engines, second is its two solid rocket boosters and the third, is an external fuel tank which houses the liquid hydrogen and oxidizer burned in the main engines. The Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) provides orbital maneuvers which includes insertion, circularizattion, transfer, rendezvous, abort to orbit and abort once around. The Reaction Control System (RCS) provides altitude control and translation along the pitch, roll and yaw axes during the flight phases of orbit insertion, orbit and re-entry. The Thermal Protection System (TPS) covers the outside of the Orbiter, for protection against the cold soak of -121 degree Celsius in space to the 1649 degree Celsius heat of re-entry. The Space Shuttle Orbiter's individual fleets are named and numbered similar to ships. All orbiters tend to be externally and identically similar, but they have minor internal differences. The Challenger (OV-099) was destroyed after its liftoff in January 28, 1986. The Eneterprise (OV-101) was used for test landings. The Columbia which was destroyed during reentry in February 1, 2003. And the other orbiters, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavor. As of August 21, 2007, Columbia and Challenger are no longer in service "
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The orbital spaceplanes are designed to ascend orbit vertically under rocket power like conventional expendable launch vehicles. Orbital spaceplanes has a much smaller payload fraction than a ballistic design with the same takeoff weight. Thus, it significantly reduces the payload size due to the wings' weight, but the reusability is intended to offset the disadvantage.
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"The Space Shuttle Orbiter is the Orbital vehicle of the Space Shuttle and is a mixture of rocket, spacecraft and aircraft. It is a reusable winged ""spaceplane"" and it launches crew and payload into Earth orbit and performs on-orbit operations. Individual Orbiters are both named and numbered, a similar manner to ships by the NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation system. All Orbiters' external structures are very similar, though they have minor differences such as new equipment fitted on a rotating basis for maintenance and the newer Orbiters tend to be structurally lighter. The first test Shuttle, the Enterprise, was designed for testing the Space Shuttle behavior in atmospheric flight. Columbia, first launched on April 12, 1981 and the first space shuttle to fly into orbit. Challenger, first launched on April 4, 1983 and the second orbiter to become operational at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Discovery, first launched on August 30, 1984, has flown 33 missions and is still currently operational though Discovery will be retiring in 2010. Atlantis, first launched on October 3, 1985, has flown 26 missions and is still operational today but will be retiring also in 2010. And the Endeavor, first launched on May 7, 1992 and has flown 19 missions and still operational but is due to retire also in 2010. The Orbiter's crew cabin has a flight deck, mid-deck and utility area. The Orbiter has a large payload bay at about 60 by 15 feet. There are three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) mounted on the Orbiter's aft fuselage in a triangular pattern. The aft fuselage houses three auxiliary power units. The Orbiter structure is primarily made from aluminum alloy, although the engine thrust structure is made from titanium alloy. Space Shuttle Orbiters support scientific experiments and observations, spacecraft deployment, retrieval, service and repair, assembly of large space structures, such as the International Space Station and other various space operations. "
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"NASA had many successful space missions and programs, including over 150 unmanned missions and many space flight missions, most notably the space mission on Mars. NASA probes have been continually performing science at Mars since 1997, with at least two orbiters since 2001 and several Mars rovers. The orbiting Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will continue monitoring the geology and climate of the Red Planet and will continue searching for evidence of water and life presence, as they have since 2001 and 2006. The cockpit houses the pressurized crew module and it provides support for the nose section, nose gear and the nose gear wheel well and doors. The crew station consists of the flight deck, middle deck/equipment bay and an airlock. The flight deck permits the vehicle to be piloted from either seat and permits one-man emergency return while the middle deck contains provisions and stowage facilities for four crew sleep stations. The Orbiter is both the brains and heart of the Space Transportation System. About the same size and weight as a DC-9 aircraft, the Orbiter contains the pressurized crew compartment,the huge cargo bay and the three main engines mounted on its aft end and a midfuselage that supports the payload bay of the Orbiter."
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