View source for Space Shuttle Atlantis

{{Short description|Space Shuttle orbiter (1985–2011)}}
{{DISPLAYTITLE:Space Shuttle ''Atlantis''}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2014}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox individual space vehicle
| name              = ''Atlantis''
| image             = STS132 Atlantis undocking2 (cropped).jpg
| image_alt         = Top view of a spaceplane in space.
| caption           = ''Atlantis'' in orbit in 2010, during STS-132

| type              = [[Spaceplane]]
| serial            = OV-104
| eponym            = [[RV Atlantis|RV ''Atlantis'']]
| owner             = [[NASA]]
| manufacturer      = [[Rockwell International]]

| dimensions        = 
| dry_mass          = {{cvt|78000|kg}}
| communication     = 
| power             = 
| rocket            = [[Space Shuttle]]

| first_flight_date = October 3–7, 1985
| first_flight      = [[STS-51-J]]
| last_flight_date  = July 8–21, 2011
| last_flight       = [[STS-135]]

| flights           = 33
| time              = 7,358 hours
| travelled         = {{cvt|202673974|km}} around [[Earth]]
| orbits            = 4,848 around Earth
| fate              = [[Space Shuttle retirement|Retired]]
| location          = {{Ubl|[[Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex]]|[[Merritt Island, Florida]]}}

| class             = [[Space Shuttle orbiter]]
| previous          = ''[[Space Shuttle Discovery|Discovery]]''
| next              = ''[[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Endeavour]]''
}}

'''Space Shuttle ''Atlantis''''' (Orbiter Vehicle designation: '''OV‑104''') is a retired [[Space Shuttle orbiter]] vehicle which belongs to [[NASA]], the [[spaceflight]] and [[space exploration]] agency of the United States.<ref name="ov104">{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/atlantis-info.html|title=Space Shuttle Overview: Atlantis (OV-104)|access-date=November 6, 2007|publisher=NASA|year=2007|archive-date=September 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903220027/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/atlantis-info.html|url-status=dead}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> ''Atlantis'' was manufactured by the [[Rockwell International]] company in [[Southern California]] and was delivered to the [[Kennedy Space Center]] in Eastern [[Florida]] in April 1985. ''Atlantis'' is the fourth operational and the second-to-last Space Shuttle built.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100511atlantis/|title=Respecting Atlantis as the shuttle faces retirement|author=Justin Ray|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=May 11, 2010|access-date=May 13, 2010|archive-date=February 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190203202308/https://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100511atlantis/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/Features/atlantis_25_year_career.html|title=Space Shuttle Atlantis Wraps Up 25-year Career|author=Peter W. Merlin|publisher=NASA|date=May 20, 2010|access-date=July 25, 2010|archive-date=March 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304221649/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/Features/atlantis_25_year_career.html|url-status=dead}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> Its maiden flight was [[STS-51-J]] made from October 3 to 7, 1985.

''Atlantis'' embarked on its 33rd and final mission, also the final mission of a space shuttle, [[STS-135]], on July 8, 2011. [[STS-134]] by [[Space Shuttle Endeavour|''Endeavour'']] was expected to be the final flight before STS-135 was authorized in October 2010. STS-135 took advantage of the processing for the STS-335 [[Launch on Need]] mission that would have been necessary if STS-134's crew became stranded in orbit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacenews.com/civil/101119-extra-flights-needed-hedge-cots-delays.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120523184328/http://www.spacenews.com/civil/101119-extra-flights-needed-hedge-cots-delays.html|archive-date=May 23, 2012|title=Bolden Says Extra Shuttle Flight Needed As Hedge Against Additional COTS Delays|first=Amy|last=Svitak|publisher=Space News International|date=November 19, 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=March 16, 2011}}</ref> ''Atlantis'' landed for the final time at the Kennedy Space Center on July 21, 2011.

By the end of its final mission, ''Atlantis'' had orbited the [[Earth]] a total of 4,848 times, traveling nearly {{cvt|126000000|mi|km}}, which is more than 525 times the distance from the Earth to the [[Moon]].

''Atlantis'' is named after [[RV Atlantis|RV ''Atlantis'']], a two-masted sailing ship that operated as the primary research vessel for the [[Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution]] from 1930 to 1966.<ref>{{cite web|title=Space Shuttle Atlantis Orbitor Fleet|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/orbitersatl.html|access-date=September 23, 2008|archive-date=September 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903220027/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/orbitersatl.html|url-status=dead}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

The space shuttle is now on display at the [[Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex]].

== Construction milestones ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! style="background:#efefef;" | Date
! style="background:#efefef;" | Milestone<ref>{{cite web|title=Atlantis (OV‑103)|url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/atlantis-info.html|access-date=February 17, 2012|archive-date=September 3, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190903220027/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/shuttleoperations/orbiters/atlantis-info.html|url-status=dead}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>
|-
| January 29, 1979
| Contract Award to [[Rockwell International]]'s Space Transportation Systems Division
|-
| March 30, 1980
| Start structural assembly of crew module
|-
| November 23, 1981
| Start structural assembly of aft-fuselage
|-
| June 13, 1983
| Wings arrive at [[Palmdale, California]], from [[Grumman]]
|-
| December 2, 1983
| Start of final assembly
|-
| April 10, 1984
| Final assembly completed
|-
| March 6, 1985
| Rollout from Palmdale
|-
| April 3, 1985
| Overland transport from Palmdale to [[Edwards Air Force Base]]
|-
| April 13, 1985
| Delivery to [[Kennedy Space Center]].
|-
| September 12, 1985
| Flight Readiness Firing
|-
| October 3, 1985
| First launch ([[STS-51-J]])
|}

== Specifications ==
[[File:Atlantis silhouette.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'' as it [[solar transit|transits]] the [[Sun]]]]

* Weight (with three shuttle main engines): {{cvt|68635|kg}}
* Length: {{cvt|37.2|m}}
* Height: {{cvt|17.2|m}}
* Wingspan: {{cvt|23.7|m}}
* ''Atlantis'' was completed in about half the time it took to build {{OV|102}}.<ref>{{cite news|title=Atlantis takes off on final mission|publisher=CBC News|date=May 14, 2010|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/atlantis-takes-off-on-final-mission-1.871559|access-date=February 25, 2023}}</ref>
* When it rolled out of the Palmdale assembly plant, weighing {{cvt|68635|kg}}, ''Atlantis'' was nearly {{cvt|3.5|ST|t}} lighter than ''Columbia''.

== Missions ==
Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'' lifted off on its maiden voyage [[STS-51-J]] on October 3, 1985. This was the second shuttle mission that was a dedicated Department of Defense mission.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-042210a.html|title=Space shuttle Atlantis moves to launch pad for final planned flight|publisher=Collect SPACE|date=April 22, 2010|access-date=July 25, 2010}}</ref> It flew one other mission, [[STS-61-B]] (the second shuttle night launch) before the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|''Challenger'' disaster]] temporarily grounded the shuttle fleet in 1986. Among the five Space Shuttles flown into space, ''Atlantis'' conducted a subsequent mission in the shortest time after the previous mission (turnaround time) when it launched in November 1985 on STS-61-B, only 50 days after its previous mission, STS-51-J in October 1985. ''Atlantis'' was then used for ten flights from 1988 to 1992. Two of these, both flown in 1989, deployed the planetary probes ''[[Magellan (spacecraft)|Magellan]]'' to [[Venus]] (on [[STS-30]]) and ''[[Galileo probe|Galileo]]'' to [[Jupiter]] (on [[STS-34]]). With STS-30 ''Atlantis'' became the first Space Shuttle to launch an interplanetary probe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/news/7cool-things-space-shuttle-atlantis-100512.html|title=7 Cool Things You Didn't Know About Space Shuttle Atlantis|author=Karen Rowan|publisher=SPACE.com|date=May 12, 2010|access-date=May 13, 2010|archive-date=July 27, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100727061824/http://www.space.com/news/7cool-things-space-shuttle-atlantis-100512.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[File:STS-27metalmelt.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Melted aluminum plating on ''Atlantis''{{'}}s right wing underside ([[STS-27]])]]
[[File:STS-132 Atlantis at ISS 1.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|''Atlantis'' docked to the [[International Space Station]] during STS-132 mission]]

During the launch of [[STS-27]] in 1988, a piece of insulation shed from the right solid rocket booster struck the underside of the vehicle, severely damaging over 700 tiles and removing one tile altogether.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hartsfield |first=Tom |date=August 12, 2022 |title=How the Space Shuttle program nearly ended in disaster |url=https://bigthink.com/the-past/space-shuttle-program-near-disaster/ |access-date=August 19, 2022 |website=Big Think |language=en-US}}</ref> The crew were instructed to use the remote manipulator system to survey the condition of the underside of the right wing, ultimately finding substantial tile damage. Due to the classified nature of the mission, the only images transferred to the [[mission control center]] were encrypted and of extremely poor quality. Mission control personnel deemed the damage to be "lights and shadows" and instructed the crew to proceed with the mission as usual, infuriating many of the crew. Upon landing, Atlantis became the single-most-damaged shuttle to successfully land. The survival of the crew is attributed to a steel [[L band]] antenna plate which was positioned directly under the missing tile.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=19890010807&hterms=TM-100355|title=STS-27R OV-104 Orbiter TPS damage review team, volume 1|last=Thomas|first=John|date=February 1, 1989|publisher=NASA|website=NTRS NASA Technical Reports Servers}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> A similar situation would eventually lead to the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|loss of the shuttle ''Columbia'' in 2003]], albeit on the more critical reinforced carbon-carbon.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-107.html|title=NASA – STS-107|last=KSC|first=Lynda Warnock|website=nasa.gov|access-date=June 17, 2019|archive-date=February 6, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180206060058/https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-107.html|url-status=dead}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

During [[STS-37]] in 1991, ''Atlantis'' deployed the [[Compton Gamma Ray Observatory]]. Beginning in 1995 with [[STS-71]], ''Atlantis'' made seven straight flights to the former [[Russia]]n [[space station]] ''[[Mir]]'' as part of the [[Shuttle–Mir program|Shuttle–''Mir'' program]]. STS-71 marked a number of firsts in human spaceflight: 100th U.S. crewed space flight; first U.S. Shuttle-Russian Space Station ''Mir'' docking and joint on-orbit operations; and first on-orbit change-out of shuttle crew.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/archives/sts-71.html|title=STS-71|publisher=NASA|access-date=July 25, 2010}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> When linked, ''Atlantis'' and ''Mir'' together formed the largest spacecraft in orbit at the time.

[[File:Space_Shuttle_Atlantis_launches_on_STS-132.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|''Atlantis'' heads toward Earth orbit at the beginning of [[STS-132]]]]

''Atlantis'' delivered several vital components for the construction of the [[International Space Station]] (ISS). During the February 2001 mission [[STS-98]] to the ISS, ''Atlantis'' delivered the [[Destiny (ISS module)|Destiny Module]], the primary operating facility for U.S. research payloads aboard the ISS.<ref>{{cite web |author=Halvorson |first=Todd |title=Destiny Fulfilled: Atlantis Ends Mission With Safe Touchdown |url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/missions/sts98_land_010220.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523234202/http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/missions/sts98_land_010220.html |archive-date=May 23, 2009 |access-date=July 25, 2010 |publisher=Space.com}}</ref> The five-hour 25-minute third spacewalk performed by astronauts [[Robert Curbeam]] and [[Thomas David Jones|Thomas Jones]] during STS-98 marked NASA's 100th extra vehicular activity in space.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/missions/sts98_eva3pm_010214.html|title=Astronauts Cap 100th Spacewalk With Successful Disaster Drill|author=Todd Halvorson|publisher=Space.com|date=February 14, 2010 |access-date=July 25, 2010}}</ref> The [[Quest Joint Airlock]], was flown and installed to the ISS by ''Atlantis'' during the mission [[STS-104]] in July 2001.<ref>{{cite web |author=Harwood |first=William |date=July 15, 2001 |title=Airlock marks milestone in quest to assemble Alpha |url=http://spaceflightnow.com/station/stage7a/010715fd4/ |access-date=July 25, 2010 |publisher=Spaceflight Now}}</ref> The successful installation of the airlock gave on-board space station crews the ability to stage repair and maintenance spacewalks outside the ISS using U.S. [[Extravehicular Mobility Unit|EMU]] or Russian [[Orlan space suit]]s. The first mission flown by ''Atlantis'' after the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|Space Shuttle ''Columbia'' disaster]] was [[STS-115]], conducted during September 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/behindscenes/115_mission_overview.html|title=STS-115: A Mission to Build On|publisher=NASA|date=September 28, 2006|access-date=July 25, 2010|archive-date=July 26, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726190519/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/behindscenes/115_mission_overview.html|url-status=dead}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> The mission carried the [[ISS Truss|P3/P4 truss]] segments and solar arrays to the ISS. On ISS assembly flight [[STS-122]] in February 2008, ''Atlantis'' delivered the [[Columbus (ISS module)|Columbus laboratory]] to the ISS.<ref>{{cite web |author=Mosher |first=Dave |date=February 7, 2008 |title=Europeans Celebrate Successful Launch of Science Lab |url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/080207-sts122-columbus-launch.html |access-date=July 25, 2010 |website=Space.com}}</ref> Columbus laboratory is the largest single contribution to the ISS made by the [[European Space Agency]] (ESA).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.esa.int/esaHS/ESAAYI0VMOC_iss_0.html|title=Columbus laboratory|author=European Space Agency|access-date=July 25, 2010}}</ref>

[[File:STS-132 Liftoff Space Shuttle Atlantis.ogv|thumb|thumbtime=21|STS-132 Space Shuttle launch]]
[[File:STS-135 Atlantis and Southern Lights.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'' docked to the [[International Space Station|ISS]] for the [[STS-135|final time]]]]

In May 2009 ''Atlantis'' flew a seven-member crew to the [[Hubble Space Telescope]] for its Servicing Mission 4, [[STS-125]].<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=May 29, 2009 |title=Mission Accomplished: Leaving Hubble Better Than Ever |url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts125/launch/125_overview.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121026115041/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts125/launch/125_overview.html |archive-date=October 26, 2012 |access-date=July 25, 2010 |website=NASA}}</ref> The mission was a success, with the crew completing five spacewalks totaling 37 hours to install new cameras, batteries, a gyroscope and other components to the telescope. This was the final mission not to rendezvous with the [[International Space Station|ISS]].

The longest mission flown using ''Atlantis'' was [[STS-117]], which lasted almost 14 days in June 2007.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/news/STS-117-30.html|title=STS-117 MCC Status Report #30|publisher=NASA|date=June 22, 2007|access-date=July 25, 2010|archive-date=November 20, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071120185309/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts117/news/STS-117-30.html|url-status=dead}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> During STS-117, ''Atlantis''{{'}} crew added a new starboard truss segment and solar array pair (the [[Integrated Truss Structure|S3/S4]] truss), folded the P6 array in preparation for its relocation and performed four spacewalks. ''Atlantis'' was not equipped to take advantage of the [[Electrical system of the International Space Station|Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System]] so missions could not be extended by making use of power provided by ISS.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts122/interview_love.html |title=Preflight Interview: Stan Love, Mission Specialist|publisher=NASA|date=November 19, 2007}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

During the [[STS-129]] post-flight interview on November 16, 2009, shuttle launch director Mike Leinbach said that ''Atlantis'' officially beat [[Space Shuttle Discovery|Space Shuttle ''Discovery'']] for the record low amount of interim problem reports, with a total of just 54 listed since returning from STS-125. Leinbach added, "It is due to the team and the hardware processing. They just did a great job. The record will probably never be broken again in the history of the Space Shuttle Program, so congratulations to them."{{citation needed|date=December 2022}}  Leinbach made a similar report during a  post-launch interview on May 14, 2010, saying that there were a total of 46 listed from STS-129 to STS-132.

== Orbiter maintenance down periods ==
''Atlantis'' went through two overhauls of scheduled [[orbiter maintenance down period]]s (OMDPs) during its operational history.

''Atlantis'' arrived at [[Palmdale, California]] in October 1992 for OMDP-1. During that visit 165 modifications were made over the next 20 months. These included the installation of a drag chute, new plumbing lines to configure the orbiter for extended duration, improved nose wheel steering, more than 800 new heat tiles and blankets, new insulation for main landing gear, and structural modifications to the airframe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/atlantis.html|title=Atlantis (OV-104)|publisher=NASA|date=October 10, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110805020222/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/atlantis.html|archive-date=August 5, 2011}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

On November 5, 1997, ''Atlantis'' again arrived at Palmdale for OMDP-2 which was completed on September 24, 1998. The 130 modifications carried out during OMDP-2 included glass cockpit displays, replacement of TACAN navigation with GPS and ISS airlock and docking installation. Several weight reduction modifications were performed on the orbiter including replacement of Advanced Flexible Reusable Surface Insulation (AFRSI) insulation blankets<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/orbiter/tps/blankets.html|title=Advanced Flexible Reusable Surface Insulation Blankets|publisher=NASA |date=October 10, 2009|access-date=October 10, 2009|archive-date=October 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091009075245/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/shutref/orbiter/tps/blankets.html|url-status=dead}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> on upper surfaces with FRSI. Lightweight crew seats were installed and the [[Extended Duration Orbiter]] (EDO) package installed on OMDP-1 was removed to lighten ''Atlantis'' to better serve its prime mission of servicing the ISS.

During the standdown period post ''Columbia'' accident, ''Atlantis'' went through over 75 modifications to the orbiter ranging from very minor bolt change-outs to window change-outs and different fluid systems.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/podcasting/115_askmission_leinbach_transcript.html|title=Mike Leinbach, STS-115 Launch Director|publisher=NASA|date=August 22, 2006|access-date=July 25, 2010}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

''Atlantis'' was known among the shuttle workforce as being more prone than the others in the fleet to problems that needed to be addressed while readying the vehicle for launch, leading to some nicknaming it "[[Britney Spears|Britney]]".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/06/sts-135-engineers-mfv-et-138-stringer-inspections-completed/|title=STS-135: Engineers retest MFV – ET-138 stringer inspections completed|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|date=June 25, 2011}}</ref>

== Decommissioning ==
{{Further|Space Shuttle retirement}}
[[File:Space Shuttle Placement Announcement - 201104120001HQ.jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|NASA administrator Charlie Bolden announces that ''Atlantis'' will remain at the [[Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex]] on permanent exhibition]]

NASA initially planned to withdraw ''Atlantis'' from service in 2008, as the orbiter would have been due to undergo its third scheduled OMDP; the timescale of the final retirement of the shuttle fleet was such that having the orbiter undergo this work was deemed uneconomical. It was planned that ''Atlantis'' would be kept in near-flight condition to be used as a [[Cannibalization (parts)|spares source]] for ''Discovery'' and ''Endeavour''. However, with the significant planned flight schedule up to 2010, the decision was taken to extend the time between OMDPs, allowing ''Atlantis'' to be retained for operations. ''Atlantis'' was subsequently swapped for one flight of each ''Discovery'' and ''Endeavour'' in the flight manifest. ''Atlantis'' had completed what was meant to be its last flight, [[STS-132]], prior to the end of the shuttle program,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2007/06/atlantis-avoids-early-retirement-will-keep-flying-to-2010/|title=Atlantis avoids early retirement – will keep flying to 2010 |publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com|last=Bergin|first=Chris|date=June 23, 2007}}</ref> but the extension of the Shuttle program into 2011 led to ''Atlantis'' being selected for [[STS-135]], the final Space Shuttle mission in July 2011.

[[File:Kennedy Space Center (11655405446).jpg|thumb|upright=1.0|right|''Atlantis'' display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex]]

''Atlantis'' is currently displayed at the [[Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pearlman |first=Robert Z. |date=2025-07-04 |title=Trump's signing of 'One Big Beautiful Bill' includes $85 million to move space shuttle Discovery from Smithsonian to Texas |url=https://www.space.com/space-exploration/space-shuttle/trumps-signing-of-one-big-beautiful-bill-includes-usd85-million-to-move-space-shuttle-discovery-from-smithsonian-to-texas |access-date= |work=Space |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=NYC, L.A., Kennedy Space Center, Smithsonian to get the 4 retired space shuttles |url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/04/kennedy-space-center-air-and-space-museum-likely-to-get-2-of-the-4-retiring-shuttle-vehicles/1|newspaper=USA Today|date=April 12, 2011}}</ref> NASA Administrator [[Charles Bolden]] announced the decision at an employee event held on April 12, 2011, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the [[STS-1|first shuttle flight]]: "First, here at the Kennedy Space Center where every shuttle mission and so many other historic human space flights have originated, we'll showcase my old friend, ''Atlantis''".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/110412museums/|title=Space shuttle retirement museums announced|author=William Harwood|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=April 12, 2011|access-date=April 13, 2011|archive-date=April 15, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110415063717/http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts134/110412museums/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=ares3>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_iqc-FbRaw|archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/v_iqc-FbRaw|archive-date=December 11, 2021|url-status=live|title=Homes of Retired Space Shuttle Orbiters Announcement by NASA Admin Charlie Bolden|author=Matthew Travis|publisher=SpaceflightNews.net|date=April 12, 2011|access-date=June 23, 2011}} {{cbignore}}</ref>

The Visitor Complex displays ''Atlantis'' with payload bay doors opened mounted at a 43.21° angle to give the appearance of being in orbit around the Earth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis {{!}} Kennedy Space Center |url=https://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/explore-attractions/shuttle-a-ship-like-no-other/featured-attraction/space-shuttle-atlantis |access-date=August 19, 2022 |website=www.kennedyspacecenter.com}}</ref> The mount angle pays tribute to the countdown that preceded every shuttle launch at KSC.<ref>{{cite news|title=Angling Atlantis: Space shuttle raised and tilted for public display|url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-113012a.html|author=Robert Z. Pearlman |publisher=Collect Space}}</ref> A multi-story digital projection of Earth rotates behind the orbiter in a {{cvt|5900|m2}} indoor facility.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/11367-nasa-space-shuttles-museums-winners.html|title=NASA Gives Space Shuttles to Smithsonian and Museums in California, Florida and NYC|author=Robert Z. Pearlman|publisher=CollectSPACE.com|date=April 12, 2011|access-date=April 13, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/kscshuttledisplay.html|title=NASA to Enhance Shuttle Story at Kennedy with Atlantis|publisher=NASA|date=April 12, 2011|access-date=April 13, 2011}} {{PD-notice}}</ref> Ground breaking of the facility occurred in 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kennedyspacecenter.com/orbiter-announcement.aspx|title=There's No Space Like Home. Welcome Home, Atlantis!|access-date=April 14, 2010|publisher=KSC|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110414124732/http://kennedyspacecenter.com/orbiter-announcement.aspx|archive-date=April 14, 2011}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

The exhibit opened on June 29, 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Space shuttle Atlantis exhibit opens June 29|url=http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/on-the-town/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2013/2/21/nasa_to_announce_gra.html|publisher=CFN13|access-date=February 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223072210/http://www.cfnews13.com/content/news/cfnews13/on-the-town/article.html/content/news/articles/cfn/2013/2/21/nasa_to_announce_gra.html|archive-date=February 23, 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Crews==
[[File:STS125 crew portrait1.jpg|thumb|Crewmembers for the final Hubble Servicing Mission, STS-125 pose for a photo on the flight deck of ''Atlantis'']]

A total of 207 individuals flew with Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'' over the course of its 33 missions.<ref name="Atlantis Legacy">{{cite web|url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-060210a.html|title=The legacy of space shuttle Atlantis|publisher=CollectSPACE|date=June 2, 2010|access-date=June 4, 2010}}</ref> Because the shuttle sometimes flew crew members arriving and departing Mir and the ISS, not all of them launched and landed on ''Atlantis''.

Astronaut [[Clayton Anderson]], ESA astronaut [[Leopold Eyharts]] and Russian cosmonauts [[Nikolai Budarin]] and [[Anatoly Solovyev]] only launched on ''Atlantis''. Similarly, astronauts [[Daniel Tani]] and [[Sunita Williams]], as well as cosmonauts [[Vladimir Dezhurov]] and [[Gennady Strekalov]] only landed with ''Atlantis''. Only 146 men and women both launched and landed aboard ''Atlantis''.<ref name="Atlantis Legacy"/>

Some of those people flew with ''Atlantis'' more than once. Taking them into account, 203 total seats were filled over ''Atlantis''{{'}} 33 missions. Astronaut [[Jerry L. Ross|Jerry Ross]] holds the record for the most flights aboard ''Atlantis'' at five.<ref name="Atlantis Legacy" />

Astronaut [[Rodolfo Neri Vela]] who flew aboard ''Atlantis'' on STS-61-B mission in 1985 is the only Mexican to have traveled to space. ESA astronaut [[Dirk D. Frimout|Dirk Frimout]] who flew on STS-45 as a payload specialist was the first Belgian in space. STS-46 mission specialist [[Claude Nicollier]] was the first astronaut from Switzerland. On the same flight, astronaut [[Franco Malerba]] became the first citizen of Italy to travel to space.

Astronaut [[Mike Massimino]] who flew on STS-125 mission became the first person to use Twitter in space in May 2009.<ref>{{cite web|title=Mike Massimino Becomes the First to 'Tweet' From Space|date=May 13, 2009 |url=https://www.nasa.gov/topics/people/features/massimino_tweet.html|publisher=NASA|access-date=February 25, 2023}}</ref>

Having flown aboard ''Atlantis'' as part of the STS-132 crew in May 2010 and ''Discovery'' as part of the [[STS-133]] crew in February/March 2011, [[Stephen Bowen (astronaut)|Stephen Bowen]] became the first NASA astronaut to be launched on consecutive missions.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2011/feb/HQ_11-054_Discovery_Launches.html|title=NASA'S Shuttle Discovery Heads To Space Station On Its Final Mission|publisher=NASA|date=February 24, 2011|access-date=March 10, 2011}}</ref>

==Flights listing==
<!-- Note: missions are ordered by the launch date rather than the mission number, please do not change this order -->
{{sticky header}}
{| class="wikitable sticky-header"
|-
! scope="col" style="background:#efefef;" | #
! scope="col" width=18% style="background:#efefef;" | Date
! scope="col" style="background:#efefef;" | Designation
! scope="col" style="background:#efefef;" | Launch pad
! scope="col" style="background:#efefef;" | Landing location
! scope="col" style="background:#efefef;" | Duration
! scope="col" style="background:#efefef;" | Distance Traveled<ref name="press">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/451029main_sts132_press_kit.pdf|title=Space Shuttle Mission STS-132 Press Kit|author=NASA|date=May 2010|access-date=May 8, 2010|archive-date=December 25, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225055516/https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/451029main_sts132_press_kit.pdf%20|url-status=dead}}</ref>
! scope="col" style="background:#efefef;" | Notes
|-
| 1
| October 3, 1985
| [[STS-51-J]]
| 39A
| Edwards AFB
| 4 days, 1 hour, 44 minutes, 38 seconds
| {{convert|1682641|mi|km}}
| First ''Atlantis'' mission; mission dedicated to Department of Defense. Deployed two DSCS-III ([[Defense Satellite Communications System]]) satellites into stationary orbit.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/1536/1|title=A lighter shade of black: the (non) mystery of STS-51J|first=Dwayne|last=Day|date=January 4, 2010|publisher=The Space Review|access-date=July 21, 2011}}</ref>
|-
| 2
| November 26, 1985
| [[STS-61-B]]
| 39A
| Edwards AFB
| 6 days, 21 hours, 4 minutes, 49 seconds
| {{convert|2466956|mi|km}}
| Three communications satellites deployed: [[MORELOS-B]], AUSSAT-2 and SATCOM KU-2
|-
| 3
| December 2, 1988
| [[STS-27]]
| 39B
| Edwards AFB
| 4 days, 9 hours, 5 minutes, 37 seconds
| {{convert|1812075|mi|km}}
| Mission dedicated to Department of Defense. Deployed the [[Lacrosse (satellite)|Lacrosse 1]] satellite, for the US [[National Reconnaissance Office]] (NRO) and the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA). ''Atlantis''{{'}} [[Thermal Protection System]] tiles sustained unusually severe damage during the flight; over 700 damaged tiles were noted, and one tile was missing.<ref name="harwood090327">{{cite web | url = http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts119/090327sts27/ | title = Legendary commander tells story of shuttle's close call | author = William Harwood | date = March 27, 2009 | publisher = Spaceflight Now | access-date = July 25, 2010 | archive-date = May 30, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090530182405/http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts119/090327sts27/ | url-status = dead }}.</ref>
|-
| 4
| May 4, 1989
| [[STS-30]]
| 39B
| Edwards AFB
| 4 days, 0 hours, 56 minutes, 28 seconds
| {{convert|1477500|mi|km}}
| Deployed the [[Magellan (spacecraft)|''Magellan'' probe]] bound for [[Venus]].
|-
| 5
| October 18, 1989
| [[STS-34]]
| 39B
| Edwards AFB
| 4 days, 23 hours, 39 minutes, 20 seconds
| {{convert|1800000|mi|km}}
| Deployed the [[Galileo probe|''Galileo'' probe]] bound for [[Jupiter]].
|-
| 6
| February 28, 1990
| [[STS-36]]
| 39A
| Edwards AFB
| 4 days, 10 hours, 18 minutes, 22 seconds
| {{convert|1837962|mi|km}}
| Mission dedicated to Department of Defense. STS-36 deployed a single satellite believed to have been a [[Misty (satellite)|Misty]] [[reconnaissance satellite]].
|-
| 7
| November 15, 1990
| [[STS-38]]
| 39A
| KSC
| 4 days, 21 hours, 54 minutes, 31 seconds
| {{convert|2045056|mi|km}}
| Mission dedicated to Department of Defense. Deployed USA-67 believed to have been a secret [[Magnum (satellite)|Magnum]] [[ELINT]] (ELectronic INTelligence) gathering satellite.
|-
| 8
| April 5, 1991
| [[STS-37]]
| 39B
| Edwards AFB
| 5 days, 23 hours, 32 minutes, 44 seconds
| {{convert|2487075|mi|km}}
| Deployed [[Compton Gamma Ray Observatory]] (GRO), the second of the [[Great Observatories program]] after the first successful unscheduled EVA in the Shuttle program to deploy GRO's data antenna.
|-
| 9
| August 2, 1991
| [[STS-43]]
| 39A
| KSC
| 8 days, 21 hours, 21 minutes, 25 seconds
| {{convert|3700400|mi|km}}
| Deployed [[TDRS-5]] (TDRS-E).
|-
| 10
| November 24, 1991
| [[STS-44]]
| 39A
| Edwards AFB
| 6 days, 22 hours, 50 minutes, 44 seconds
| {{convert|2890067|mi|km}}
| Mission dedicated to Department of Defense. The unclassified payload included a [[Defense Support Program]] (DSP) satellite deployed on flight day one.
|-
| 11
| March 24, 1992
| [[STS-45]]
| 39A
| KSC
| 8 days, 22 hours, 9 minutes 28 seconds
| {{convert|3274946|mi|km}}
| Carried first Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science (ATLAS-1). ATLAS-1 equipped with 12 instruments conducted studies in atmospheric chemistry, solar radiation, space plasma physics and ultraviolet astronomy.
|-
| 12
| July 31, 1992
| [[STS-46]]
| 39A
| KSC
| 7 days, 23 hours, 15 minutes, 3 seconds
| {{convert|3321007|mi|km}}
| Deployed the [[Tethered Satellite System#TSS-1 mission|Tethered Satellite System]] (TSS), a joint [[NASA]]/[[Italian Space Agency]] experiment. The satellite only reached a maximum of {{convert|860|ft|m}} instead of {{convert|12.5|mi|km}}, because of a jammed tether line. The [[European Retrievable Carrier]] (EURECA) satellite was deployed for the [[European Space Agency]] (ESA).
|-
| 13
| November 3, 1994
| [[STS-66]]
| 39B
| Edwards AFB
| 10 days, 22 hours, 34 minutes, 2 seconds
| {{convert|4554791|mi|km}}
| Carried Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Sciences – 3 (ATLAS-03) to study the energy of the sun and how it affects the Earth's climate and environment. In addition, STS-66 included deployment and retrieval of the Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometer Telescope for Atmosphere (CRISTA) to explore the variability of the atmosphere and provide measurements.
|-
| 14
| June 27, 1995
| [[STS-71]]
| 39A
| KSC
| 9 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes, 17 seconds
| {{convert|4100000|mi|km}}
| First Shuttle docking with [[space station]] [[Mir]]. 100th U.S. crewed space flight. ''Atlantis'' transported two [[cosmonaut]]s Anatoly Solovyev and Nikolai Budarin to Mir and returned astronaut [[Norman E. Thagard|Norman Thagard]] and cosmonauts [[Vladimir Dezhurov]] and [[Gennady Strekalov]]. The joint U.S-Russian crew performed [[life science]]s investigations aboard [[Spacelab|SPACELAB]]/Mir.
|-
| 15
| November 12, 1995
| [[STS-74]]
| 39A
| KSC
| 8 days, 4 hours, 31 minutes, 42 seconds
| {{convert|3400000|mi|km}}
| Carried docking module to Mir and docked to the Kristall module. During the three days of combined shuttle-Mir operations, ''Atlantis''{{'}}s crew transferred water, supplies, equipment and two new solar arrays to upgrade Mir.
|-
| 16
| March 22, 1996
| [[STS-76]]
| 39B
| Edwards AFB
| 9 days, 5 hours, 16 minutes, 48 seconds
| {{convert|3800000|mi|km}}
| Rendezvous with Mir, including crew transfer of [[Shannon Lucid]]. STS-76 marked first flight of [[SPACEHAB]] pressurized module to support Shuttle-Mir dockings. Spacewalkers [[Linda M. Godwin|Linda Godwin]] and [[Michael R. Clifford|Michael Clifford]] conducted the first U.S. extravehicular activity (EVA) around the two mated spacecraft.
|-
| 17
| September 16, 1996
| [[STS-79]]
| 39A
| KSC
| 10 days, 3 hours, 19 minutes, 28 seconds
| {{convert|3900000|mi|km}}
| Rendezvous with Mir, including crew transfer of Shannon Lucid and [[John Blaha]]. First shuttle mission to the fully completed Mir in its final configuration. STS-79 marked the second flight of SPACEHAB module in support of Shuttle-Mir activities and the first flight of SPACEHAB Double Module configuration.
|-
| 18
| January 12, 1997
| [[STS-81]]
| 39B
| KSC
| 10 days, 4 hours, 56 minutes, 30 seconds
| {{convert|3900000|mi|km}}
| Rendezvous with Mir, including crew transfer of John Blaha and [[Jerry Linenger]]. Carried the SPACEHAB double module and during five days of docked operations with Mir, the crews transferred water and supplies.
|-
| 19
| May 15, 1997
| [[STS-84]]
| 39A
| KSC
| 9 days, 5 hours, 20 minutes, 47 seconds
| {{convert|3600000|mi|km}}
| Rendezvous with Mir, including crew transfer of Jerry Linenger and [[Michael Foale]]. Carried the SPACEHAB double module.
|-
| 20
| September 25, 1997
| [[STS-86]]
| 39A
| KSC
| 10 days, 19 hours, 22 minutes, 12 seconds
| {{convert|4225000|mi|km}}
| Rendezvous with Mir, including crew transfer of Michael Foale and [[David A. Wolf]]. Highlights of STS-86 included five days of docked operations and the first joint U.S.-Russian spacewalk during a shuttle mission conducted by cosmonaut [[Vladimir G. Titov|Vladimir Titov]] and astronaut [[Scott E. Parazynski|Scott Parazynski]].
|-
| 21
| May 19, 2000
| [[STS-101]]
| 39A
| KSC
| 9 days, 21 hours, 10 minutes, 10 seconds
| {{convert|5076281|mi|km}}
| [[International Space Station]] resupply mission with supplies carried up using a SPACEHAB double module and SPACEHAB Integrated Cargo Carrier pallet. Astronauts [[James S. Voss|James Voss]] and [[Jeffrey N. Williams|Jeffrey Williams]] performed a spacewalk and ''Atlantis'' reboosted the ISS.
|-
| 22
| September 8, 2000
| [[STS-106]]
| 39B
| KSC
| 11 days, 19 hours, 12 minutes, 15 seconds
| {{convert|4919243|mi|km}}
| International Space Station resupply mission. STS-106 utilized the SPACEHAB Double Module and the Integrated Cargo Carrier (ICC) to bring supplies to the ISS. The mission included two spacewalks.
|-
| 23
| February 7, 2001
| [[STS-98]]
| 39A
| Edwards AFB
| 12 days, 21 hours, 21 minutes
| {{convert|5369576|mi|km}}
| International Space Station assembly mission (carried and assembled the [[Destiny (ISS module)|Destiny Laboratory Module]]). Three spacewalks including the 100th in the U.S. human spaceflight program were conducted to complete its assembly.
|-
| 24
| July 12, 2001
| [[STS-104]]
| 39B
| KSC
| 12 days, 18 hours, 36 minutes, 39 seconds
| {{convert|5309429|mi|km}}
| International Space Station assembly mission (carried and assembled the [[Quest Joint Airlock]]). Astronauts [[Michael L. Gernhardt|Michael Gernhardt]] and [[James F. Reilly|James Reilly]] conducted three space walks while ''Atlantis'' was docked to the ISS. STS-104 was the first shuttle mission to fly with a "Block II" [[Space Shuttle Main Engine|SSME]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/news/columbia/frr/sts-104/08_ssme.pdf|title=Atlantis STS 104 Space Shuttle Program SSME Flight Readiness Review|author=G. D. Hopson|date=June 28, 2001|access-date=July 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100531204022/http://www.jsc.nasa.gov/news/columbia/frr/sts-104/08_ssme.pdf|archive-date=May 31, 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|-
| 25
| April 8, 2002
| [[STS-110]]
| 39B
| KSC
| 10 days, 19 hours, 43 minutes, 48 seconds
| {{convert|4525299|mi|km}}
| International Space Station assembly mission (carried and assembled the [[Integrated Truss Structure|S0 truss]] segment) which forms the backbone of the truss structure on the ISS. STS-110 delivered the Mobile Transporter (MT). Four spacewalks were conducted in support of ISS construction.
|-
| 26
| October 7, 2002
| [[STS-112]]
| 39B
| KSC
| 10 days, 19 hours, 58 minutes, 44 seconds
| {{convert|4513015|mi|km}}
| International Space Station assembly mission (carried and assembled the [[Integrated Truss Structure|S1 truss]] segment). ''Atlantis'' delivered the Crew Equipment Translation Aid (CETA). Astronauts [[David A. Wolf|David Wolf]] and [[Piers J. Sellers|Piers Sellers]] conducted three spacewalks. A camera mounted to the shuttle's external tank captured the ascent to orbit. This was the first time such footage was recorded.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflightnow.com/station/sts112/020912shuttlecam/|title=Sneak peek at 'shuttlecam'|author=Stephen Clark|publisher=Spaceflight Now|access-date=July 25, 2010|date=September 12, 2002}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/video/shuttle/sts-112/html/fd1.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021020175221/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/video/shuttle/sts-112/html/fd1.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=October 20, 2002|title=STS 112 Daily Videos: Flight Day 1|author=NASA|access-date=July 25, 2010}}</ref>
|-
| 27
| September 9, 2006
| [[STS-115]]
| 39B
| KSC
| 11 days, 19 hours, 6 minutes, 35 seconds
| {{convert|4910288|mi|km}}
| International Space Station resupply and construction ([[Integrated Truss Structure|P3 and P4 truss]] segments, solar arrays 2A and 4A and batteries). STS-115 was the first [[ISS assembly sequence|assembly mission]] to the ISS after the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|''Columbia'' disaster]]. A total of three spacewalks were performed, during which the crew connected the systems on the installed trusses, prepared them for deployment and did other maintenance work on the ISS.
|-
| 28
| June 8, 2007
| [[STS-117]]
| 39A
| Edwards AFB
| 13 days, 20 hours, 12 minutes, 44 seconds
| {{convert|5809363|mi|km}}
| International Space Station resupply and construction ([[Integrated Truss Structure|S3 and S4 truss]] and a set of solar arrays segments)<ref name="sts117">{{Cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts117/|title=STS-117 Mission Coverage|access-date=December 7, 2007|publisher=Spaceflightnow.com|year=2007|first=William|last=Harwood|work=[[CBS News]]|archive-date=February 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209040217/https://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts117/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The launch of STS-117 marked the 250th orbital [[List of human spaceflights|human spaceflight]].<ref>
{{cite web |url=http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-060807a.html | title = STS-117 marks 250th orbital crewed flight | publisher=collectSPACE}}</ref> STS-117 brought [[Expedition 15]] crewmember [[Clayton Anderson]] to the ISS, and returned with [[Sunita Williams]].
|-
| 29
| February 7, 2008
| [[STS-122]]
| 39A
| KSC
| 12 days, 18 hours, 21 minutes, 50 seconds
| {{convert|5296842|mi|km}}
| International Space Station construction ([[Columbus (ISS module)|Columbus laboratory]]). STS-122 carried ESA astronaut [[Léopold Eyharts]], a French Flight Engineer representing ESA to the ISS and returned [[Expedition 16]] Flight Engineer [[Daniel M. Tani]] to Earth. Three spacewalks were performed by mission specialists [[Rex J. Walheim|Rex Walheim]] and [[Stanley G. Love|Stanley Love]].
|-
| 30
| May 11, 2009
| [[STS-125]]
| 39A
| Edwards AFB
| 12 days, 21 hours, 37 minutes, 9 seconds
| {{convert|5276000|mi|km}}
| Final [[Hubble Space Telescope]] Servicing Mission 4. ''Atlantis'' carried two new instruments to the Hubble Space Telescope, the [[Cosmic Origins Spectrograph]] and the [[Wide Field Camera 3]]. The mission replaced a [[Fine Guidance Sensor]], six [[gyroscope]]s, and two [[battery (electricity)|battery]] unit modules. The mission included five spacewalks totaling 37 hours. STS-125 carried an [[IMAX]] camera to document the progress of the mission.
|-
| 31
| November 16, 2009
| [[STS-129]]
| 39A
| KSC
| 10 days, 19 hours, 16 minutes, 13 seconds
| {{convert|4490138|mi|km}}
| International Space Station resupply and construction ([[ExPRESS Logistics Carrier|ELC-1/ELC-2]]). STS-129 was the first flight of an [[ExPRESS Logistics Carrier]] and focused on staging spare components outside the space station.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts129/launch/129_overview.html|title=Mission STS-129: Delivering the Goods|author=Elaine M. Marconi|publisher=NASA.gov|date=December 4, 2009|access-date=July 25, 2010|archive-date=October 25, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025070812/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/sts129/launch/129_overview.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> The mission included three spacewalks.
|-
| 32
| May 14, 2010
| [[STS-132]]
| 39A
| KSC
| 11 days, 18 hours, 29 minutes, 09 seconds
| {{convert|4879978|mi|km}}
| International Space Station construction ([[Rassvet (ISS module)|Mini-Research Module 1]] and the cargo pallet, Integrated Cargo Carrier-Vertical Light Deployable (ICC-VLD)).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100512preview/|title=Mission preview: Atlantis to launch Russian mini module|author=William Harwood|publisher=Spaceflight Now|date=May 12, 2010|access-date=July 25, 2010|archive-date=July 18, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100718213918/http://spaceflightnow.com/shuttle/sts132/100512preview/|url-status=dead}}</ref> The mission included three spacewalks.
|-
| 33
| July 8, 2011
| [[STS-135]]
| 39A
| KSC
| 12 days, 18 hours, 28 minutes, 50 seconds
| {{convert|5284862|mi|km}}
| International Space Station resupply using the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module and the Lightweight Multi-Purpose Carrier (LMC). The failed ammonia pump module that was replaced in August 2010 returned inside ''Atlantis''{{'}} payload bay. This was the final mission of Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'' and the last mission for the Space Shuttle Program. STS-135 flew with a crew of four astronauts; the reduced crew size allowed for rescue by regularly scheduled [[Soyuz programme|Soyuz]] missions if necessary.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/08/nasa-approve-sts-135-mission-june-28-2011-launch/|title=NASA managers approve STS-135 mission planning for June&nbsp;28, 2011 launch|first=Chris|last=Bergin|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|date=August 20, 2010|access-date=March 16, 2011}}</ref>
|}

==Problems==

===Composite overwrapped pressure vessels===
NASA announced in 2007 that 24 helium and nitrogen gas tanks in ''Atlantis'' were older than their designed lifetime. These [[composite overwrapped pressure vessel]]s (COPV) were designed for a 10-year life and later cleared for an additional 10 years; they exceeded this life in 2005. NASA said it could not guarantee any longer that the vessels on ''Atlantis'' would not burst or explode under full [[pressure]]. Failure of these tanks could have damaged parts of the orbiter and even wound or kill ground personnel. An in-flight failure of a pressure vessel could have even resulted in the loss of the orbiter and its crew. NASA analyses originally assumed that the vessels would [[Pressure vessel#Leak before burst|leak before they burst]], but new tests showed that they could in fact burst before leaking.

Because the original vendor was no longer in business, and a new manufacturer could not be qualified before 2010, when the shuttles were scheduled to be retired, NASA decided to continue operations with the existing tanks. Therefore, to reduce the risk of failure and the cumulative effects of load, the vessels were maintained at 80 percent of the operating pressure as late in the launch countdown as possible, and the launch pad was cleared of all but essential personnel when pressure was increased to 100 percent. The new launch procedure was employed during some of the remaining launches of ''Atlantis'',<ref name="aging">{{Cite web|url=http://www.space.com/news/ft_070604_aging_orbiters.html|title=Orbiters Feel Pains of Aging |access-date=November 6, 2007|publisher=Space.com|year=2007|first1=Todd|last1=Halvorson|first2=John|last2=Kelly|work=[[Florida Today]]}}</ref> but was resolved when the two COPVs deemed to have the highest risk of failure were replaced.<ref name="copv">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2010/07/nasa-reviews-copv-for-final-program-flights/|title=NASA Reviews COPV Reliability Concerns for Final Program Flights|access-date=July 19, 2010|website=NASASpaceflight.com|first=Chris|last=Gebhardt|date=July 18, 2010}}</ref>

===Window damage===
After the STS-125 mission, a work light knob was discovered jammed in the space between one of ''Atlantis''{{'}}s front interior windows and the Orbiter dashboard structure. The knob was believed to have entered the space during flight, when the pressurized Orbiter was expanded to its maximum size. Then, once back on Earth, the Orbiter contracted, jamming the knob in place. Leaving "as-is" was considered unsafe for flight, and some options for removal (including window replacement) would have included a 6-month delay of ''Atlantis''{{'}}s next mission (planned to be [[STS-129]]). Had the removal of the knob been unsuccessful, the worst-case scenario was that ''Atlantis'' could have been retired from the fleet, leaving ''Discovery'' and ''Endeavour'' to complete the manifest alone. On June 29, 2009, ''Atlantis'' was pressurized to {{convert|17|psi|lk=in|abbr=on}} (3 psi above ambient), which forced the Orbiter to expand slightly. The knob was then frozen with [[dry ice]], and successfully removed.<ref name="knobremoval">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/06/atlantis-window-pane-begins-longerons-damaged-accident/|title=Knob removed, Atlantis window inspection begins – longerons in cart accident|access-date=June 30, 2009|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|year=2009|first=Chris|last=Bergin}}</ref> Small areas of damage to the window were discovered where the edges of the knob had been embedded into the pane.<ref name="knob">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/06/window-damage-on-atlantis-threatens-six-month-delay-to-sts-129/|title=Window damage on Atlantis threatens six-month delay to STS-129|access-date=June 25, 2009|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|year=2009|first=Chris|last=Bergin}}</ref> Subsequent investigation of the window damage discovered a maximum defect depth of approximately {{convert|0.0003|in|μm|abbr=on|lk=out}}, less than the reportable depth threshold of {{convert|0.0015|in|μm|abbr=on|lk=out}} and not serious enough to warrant the pane's replacement.<ref name="windowok">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2009/07/endeavour-into-countdown-atlantis-window-damage-cleared/|title=Endeavour heads into countdown – Atlantis window damage cleared|access-date=July 31, 2009|publisher=NASASpaceflight.com|year=2009|first=Chris|last=Bergin}}</ref>

==Gallery==

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|-
|[[File:STS51J First Flight of Atlantis.jpg|300x125px]]
|[[File:Magellan deploy.jpg|300x125px]]
|[[File:Atlantis underside STS-117.jpg|300x125px]]

|[[File:Space Shuttle Atlantis landing at KSC following STS-122.jpg|300x125px]]
|-
|<small>Liftoff of first flight of ''Atlantis'' and the [[STS-51-J]] mission</small>
|<small>Deployment of the ''[[Magellan (spacecraft)|Magellan]]'' space probe to [[Venus]] on [[STS-30]]</small>

|<small>Underside view of ''Atlantis'' during [[STS-117]] as it approached the International Space Station and performed a [[Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver]]</small>
|<small>''Atlantis'' landing at the [[Kennedy Space Center]] following [[STS-122]]</small>
|-
|[[File:STS-112 Atlantis carrying S1 truss.jpg|300x125px]]

|[[File:STS-125 Atlantis Liftoff.jpg|300x125px]]
|[[File:STS115 Atlantis undock ISS.jpg|300x125px]]
|[[File:shuttle-atlantis.jpg|300x125px]]
|-
|<small>''Atlantis'' carrying the S1 Truss segment on mission [[STS-112]]</small>
|<small>''Atlantis'' and its [[STS-125]] crew head toward Earth orbit and rendezvous with the [[Hubble Space Telescope]]</small>
|<small>Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'' after it undocked from the International Space Station on September 17, 2006</small>
|<small>The Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'' landing in 1997, at the end of [[STS-86]]</small>
|-
|[[File:Atlantis on Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.jpg|300x125px]]
|[[File:STS-79 rollout.jpg|300x125px]]
|[[File:Atlantis overheadview STS115.jpg|300x125px]]
|[[File:STS-125 May 17 EVA.jpg|300x125px]]
|-
|<small>''Atlantis'' on top of the [[Shuttle Carrier Aircraft]] in 1998</small>
|<small>An overhead view of ''Atlantis'' as it sits atop the Mobile Launcher Platform before [[STS-79]]</small>
|<small>An overhead image of ''Atlantis'' during [[STS-115]], as recorded by an [[Expedition 13]] crew member on board the International Space Station</small>
|<small> The Hubble Space Telescope aboard ''Atlantis'' during the [[STS-125]] mission</small>
|-
|[[File:STS-135 begins takeoff.jpg|300x125px]]
|[[File:STS-135 landing cropped.jpg|300x125px]]
|[[File:Atlantis welcome home ceremony outside the OPF July 22.png|300x125px]]
|[[File:Atlantis at KSC Visitor Complex.JPG|300x125px]]
|-
||<small> ''Atlantis''<nowiki>'</nowiki> final launch at the beginning of the [[STS-135]] mission</small>
|<small> ''Atlantis''<nowiki>'</nowiki> final landing at the end of the [[STS-135]] mission</small>
|<small> A welcome home ceremony is held for ''Atlantis'' at the [[Orbiter Processing Facility]] following the STS-135 mission</small>
|<small>''Atlantis'' in its final exhibit display at [[Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex]]</small>
|
|}

===Tribute and mission insignias===

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; margin:0em auto; font-size:100%; width:100%"
!colspan=7| NASA Orbiter Tribute for Space Shuttle ''Atlantis''
|-
!colspan=7|[[File:Space Shuttle Atlantis Tribute2.jpg|center|600x600px]]
|-
!colspan=7| Mission insignia for ''Atlantis'' flights
|-
|[[File:Sts-51-j-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Sts-61-b-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:STS-61-G_patch.png|center|100x100px]]
| 
|[[File:Sts-27-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Sts-30-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Sts-34-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|-
| '''[[STS-51-J]]'''
| '''[[STS-61-B]]'''
| '''[[STS-61-G]]*'''
| '''[[STS-61-J]]*'''
| '''[[STS-27]]'''
| '''[[STS-30]]'''
| '''[[STS-34]]'''
|-
|[[File:Sts-36-patch.png|center|100x100px]] 
|[[File:STS-38 patch.svg|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Sts-37-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Sts-43-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Sts-44-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Sts-45-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Sts-46-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|-
| '''[[STS-36]]'''
| '''[[STS-38]]'''
| '''[[STS-37]]'''
| '''[[STS-43]]'''
| '''[[STS-44]]'''
| '''[[STS-45]]'''
| '''[[STS-46]]'''
|-
|[[File:Sts-66-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Sts-71-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Sts-74-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Sts-76-patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:STS-79 patch.svg|center|110x110px]]
|[[File:Sts-81-patch.png|center|110x110px]]
|[[File:STS-84 patch.svg|center|100x100px]]
|-
| '''[[STS-66]]'''
| '''[[STS-71]]'''
| '''[[STS-74]]'''
| '''[[STS-76]]'''
| '''[[STS-79]]'''
| '''[[STS-81]]'''
| '''[[STS-84]]'''
|-
|[[File:Sts-86-patch.svg|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Sts-101-patch.svg|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Sts-106-patch.svg|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Sts-98-patch.svg|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:Sts-104-patch.svg|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:STS-110 patch.svg|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:STS-112 Patch.svg|center|100x100px]]
|-
| '''[[STS-86]]'''
| '''[[STS-101]]'''
| '''[[STS-106]]'''
| '''[[STS-98]]'''
| '''[[STS-104]]'''
| '''[[STS-110]]'''
| '''[[STS-112]]'''
|-
|[[File:STS-115 patch.svg|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:STS-117 patch new2.svg|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:STS-122 patch.svg|center|100x100px]] 
|[[File:STS-125 patch.svg|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:STS-129 patch.png|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:STS-132 Patch.svg|center|100x100px]]
|[[File:STS-135 Patch.svg|center|100x100px]]
|-
| '''[[STS-115]]'''
| '''[[STS-117]]'''
| '''[[STS-122]]'''
| '''[[STS-125]]'''
| '''[[STS-129]]'''
| '''[[STS-132]]'''
| '''[[STS-135]]'''
|}

<nowiki>*</nowiki> Mission canceled following the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|''Challenger'' disaster]].
==In media==
* The 1986 film ''[[SpaceCamp]]'' involves a crew of students at [[United States Space Camp]] that are accidentally launched into space on-board ''Atlantis''.
* The 1990 novel ''[[Earth (Brin novel)|Earth]]'' by [[David Brin]] includes ''Atlantis'', depicted as stranded on [[Rapa Nui]] in tribute to [[G. Harry Stine]]'s serialized novel ''[[Shuttle Down]]'', published in 1980.
* ''Atlantis'' is featured in the 1998 science-fiction film ''[[Deep Impact (film)|Deep Impact]]'', in which it is used to transport astronauts to the orbiting "Messiah" spacecraft at the start of their comet intercept mission. 
* ''Atlantis'' is also featured in, and destroyed in, the 1998 science-fiction film ''[[Armageddon (1998 film)|Armageddon]]'', which was released almost two months after Deep Impact.
* ''Atlantis'' is the setting and title of episode 2 of season 1 of the [[Quantum Leap (2022 TV series)|revived continuation of the TV series ''Quantum Leap'']], which features a fictional mission set between the real 1997 and 2000 missions (STS-86 and STS-101).
* ''Atlantis'' was featured in the British program ''[[Chucklevision]]''{{'}}s episode "Kidnapped", in which Paul & Barry Chuckle were looking for Dan the Van but a lady redirected them to the Space Shuttle ''Atlantis''; footage from [[STS-45]] was used.
*A dual finned space shuttle inspired by ''Atlantis'' appeared in the 2010 anime movie ''[[Metal Fight Beyblade vs the Sun: Sol Blaze, the Scorching Hot Invader]].''

==See also==
{{Portal|Spaceflight|1980s}}
* [[List of human spaceflights]]
* [[List of Space Shuttle crews]]
* [[List of Space Shuttle missions]]
* [[STS-135]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Space Shuttle Atlantis}}
{{Space Shuttle Mission Link}}
*[http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/orbiters.html Orbiter Vehicles] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209023806/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/orbiters.html |date=February 9, 2021 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110805020222/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/atlantis.html Shuttle Orbiter ''Atlantis'' (OV-104)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070928002632/http://www.exploration-space.com/16-apr-2007-nasa.html 16 April 2007: Consolidated Launch Manifest: Space Shuttle Flights and ISS Assembly Sequence]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100521011043/http://www.life.com/image/first/in-gallery/42752/space-shuttle-atlantis-last-flight Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'': Last Flight] – slideshow by ''[[Life magazine]]''
*[http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2010/05/first_of_the_last_space_shuttl.html ''Atlantis'' photo essay] From Boston.com.
*[https://archive.today/20130222175101/http://nasatech.net/ntTRAtlantis_PAGE.html Transition & Retirement: Hi-res spherical panoramas of the processing]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20111125055217/http://atlantis.stickrboo.com/ ''Atlantis'' StickrBoo]
*{{HAER |survey=TX-116-B |id=tx1108 |title=Space Transportation System, Orbiter Atlantis (OV-104), Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center, 2101 NASA Parkway, Houston, Harris County, TX |photos=24 |cap=5}}

{{Space Shuttle Atlantis}}
{{Space Shuttle}}
{{Space Shuttles}}
{{NASA space program}}
{{Hubble Space Telescope}}
{{Authority control}}

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