COLLECTION NAME:
NASA Dryden Flight Research Center Collection
Record
Title:
Shuttle Atlantis Returning to Kennedy Space Center after 10-Month Refurbishment
Photo Description:
The Space Shuttle Atlantis rides on the back of one of NASA?s Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft en route from California to the Kennedy Space Center, Florida.
Project Description:
470,000 pounds. The engines burn a mixture of liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen. In orbit, the Space Shuttles circle the earth at a speed of 17,500 miles per hour with each orbit taking about 90 minutes. A Space Shuttle crew sees a sunrise or sunset every 45 minutes. When Space Shuttle flights began in April 1981, Dryden Flight Research Center, Edwards, California, was the primary landing site for the Shuttles. Now Kennedy Space Center, Florida, is the primary landing site with Dryden remaining as the principal alternate landing site.
Photo Date:
September 1998
NASA Photo by:
Carla Thomas
facet_what:
Earth
facet_where:
California
facet_when:
April 1981
facet_when_year:
1981
Photo Number:
EC98-44740-1
UID:
SPD-DRYDEN-EC98-44740-1
