{"product_id":"space-shuttle-atlantis-flown-thermal-blanket","title":"Space Shuttle Atlantis - Flown Thermal Blanket","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0709\/1715\/files\/atlantis-space-shuttle-front-02_1024x1024.png?v=1648471716\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAbove: Front of the Specimen Card\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThe Space Shuttle \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAtlantis \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e(OV-104)\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ewas the fourth of the five space shuttles used in space operations. It was also the final shuttle to be flown. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eDuring Atlantis' tenure, the craft was instrumental in sending planetary probes to Venus and Jupiter and adding modules to the ISS.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003eThis specimen is a piece of a mission-flown insulation blanket, which was part of Atlantis' Thermal Control System. The TCS helped the ship withstand the extreme increase in temperatures during atmospheric reentry and the TCS blanket was applied to the inside of the shuttle to protect internal components and systems.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSoftgoods such as the blanket were a simple and efficient way to provide lightweight insulation to delicate items. \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eNASA disposition paperwork received with this item indicates this \u003c\/span\u003eparticular blanket was removed after Atlantis' mission to MIR (STS-86) which flew on September 26, 1997.\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAs pictured below, each hand-cut specimen is housed in an acrylic jar and ships in a classic, glass-topped riker display case. The specimens measure roughly 1x1cm though variations may occur. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eA small information card is also included, which serves as the certificate of authenticity.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eSpecial Handling Notice:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eIt's very\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eimportant to note that\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e this was a multi-layer insulation blanket so we've elected to provide \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003emultiple layers\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e with each specimen. All specimens will have a layer of \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ealuminized Kapton foil and a layer of fibrous bulk \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003ematerial. It's also possible that there may be a fragment of the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eDacron net separator, but we've tried to remove that as it is quite brittle\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e \u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eIn any case, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003eif you choose to open the specimen jar, take great care. The Kapton is very light and slightly brittle with age and use. It may fly away or even break into smaller pieces.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv title=\"Page 17\" class=\"page\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"layoutArea\"\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"column\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eMore about Space Shuttle Program and Atlantis (OV-104)\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAfter the close of the Apollo program, NASA turned its focus from lunar landings to research and observation. The vessel for this new focus would be the Space Shuttle, a multi-use vehicle designed to carry astronauts and scientific equipment to and from Earth's orbit. Due to their reusable design, the orbiters were amazing tools for furthering our scientific understanding of the stars. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eNASA's Space Shuttle program delivered 133 successful missions during its three decades in operation, beginning with Columbia's\u003c\/span\u003e \u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003einaugural launch in 1981 and concluding with \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAtlantis\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e' \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003efinal flight\u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003ein 2011. Missions involved many vital tasks, such as maintaining the International Space Station, repairing the Hubble Space Telescope, and deploying satellites. Scientific experiments featured heavily in the rotation, using the reusable Spacelab developed by the ESA.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAs noted above, the Space Shuttle\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAtlantis\u003cspan data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003ewas the fourth of the five space shuttles used in space operations. It was also the final shuttle to be flown. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eAtlantis orbited Earth 4,848 times, traveling approximately 126 million miles, and carried 156 different passengers over its time in service. During Atlantis' tenure, the craft was instrumental in sending planetary probes to Venus and Jupiter and adding modules to the ISS.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAtlantis \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eweighed about 150,000 pounds (68,000 kg), boasting a wingspan of about 80 feet and a length of about 120 feet. \u003cmeta charset=\"utf-8\"\u003eWhile in space,\u003ci data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e Atlantis \u003c\/i\u003eorbited Earth 4,848 times, traveling approximately 126 million miles, carrying 156 different passengers. Today, you can find the \u003c\/span\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eAtlantis \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cspan style=\"font-weight: 400;\"\u003eat the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex on Merritt Island, Florida, where it's on public display.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFurther Reading\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eMullane, Mike. Riding rockets: the outrageous tales of a space shuttle astronaut. Simon and Schuster, 2007.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eLamoreux, James C., James D. Siekierski, and JP Nick Carter. \"Space Shuttle thermal protection system inspection by 3D imaging laser radar.\" Laser Radar Technology and Applications IX. Vol. 5412. SPIE, 2004.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003ePITTS, W., and D. KOURTIDES. \"Ceramic insulation\/multifoil composite for thermal protection of reentry spacecraft.\" 24th Thermophysics Conference. 1989.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eLinton, Roger C., Ann F. Whitaker, and Miria M. Finckenor. \"Space environment durability of beta cloth in LDEF thermal blankets.\" LDEF Materials Results for Spacecraft Applications (1993).\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eHarris, Richard, Michael Stewart, and William Koenig. \"Thermal Protection Systems Technology Transfer from Apollo and Space Shuttle to the Orion Program.\" 2018 AIAA SPACE and Astronautics Forum and Exposition. 2018.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eJenkins, Dennis R. Space shuttle: the history of the National Space Transportation System: the first 100 missions. DR Jenkins, 2001.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cem\u003eJenkins, Dennis R. Space Shuttle: Developing an Icon: 1972-2013. Specialty Press, 2016.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cimg src=\"https:\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0709\/1715\/files\/atlantis-space-shuttle-back_1024x1024.png?v=1648471605\" alt=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eAbove: Back of the Specimen Card\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Mini Museum","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43591587102833,"sku":"80-112-0218-201-40","price":49.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0615\/0537\/files\/add-on-small-riker-atlantis-2025-v2.jpg?v=1783016421","url":"https:\/\/www.museumize.com\/products\/space-shuttle-atlantis-flown-thermal-blanket","provider":"Museumize.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}