MANNED SPACEFLIGHT A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z                    HOME ABOUT CATEGORIES SITE MAP COPYRIGHT ADVERTISE CONTACT entire Web this site Atlantis (Shuttle Orbiter) Space Shuttle orbiter, also designated OV-104. Atlantis was named in honor of a two-masted ketch that supported oceanographic research for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute in Massachusetts between 1930 and 1966. It first flew on Oct. 3, 1985, as mission STS-51J. Other Atlantis milestones have included the deployment of Magellan (STS-30) and Galileo (STS-34), and the first docking of a Space Shuttle to the Mir space station (STS-71). Current plans call for retirement of Atlantis in 2008, leaving the two remaining active Shuttles, Discovery and Endeavour in service until they too are retired in 2010. Related category    • MANNED SPACEFLIGHT Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History Transport Concepts & Designs (partner site) BACK TO TOP