by Dragon Models USA, Inc.
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Discovery is one of three operational Space Shuttles in NASA?s current fleet. As the third orbiter in service, it?s now the oldest Shuttle in the fleet. Its maiden flight occurred in August 1984. Among its achievements was the launching of the Hubble Space Telescope. Thus far it has performed 38 missions, the most recent being last year. To transport its fleet of spacecraft, NASA employs two extensively modified Boeing 747s. For example, the specially modified aircraft can be used if a Shuttle needs to be transported from a landing site to the Kennedy Space Center launch complex, or for any other journey that is too far for ground transport. These large transporter aircraft are appropriately enough known as Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), one being a 747-100 and the other a 747-100SR. The Boeing 747 is ideal for this task owing to its low-wing design, although the extra drag and weight reduces the aircrafts? range to 1,850km. On a transcontinental flight, the SCA would have to land several times to refuel. When the Shuttle program concludes this year, the SCAs will carry the remaining spacecraft to their final resting places, before themselves being retired. Display in flight or on the ground (stand included). Read more
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