Airliner Series>1:200 die-cast display model>DC-3>HL1407
Space Shuttle mission 51-L, OV-099 "Challenger", January 1986
General Background
The U.S. Space Shuttle program started with the awarding of the contract to Rockwell
International's Space Transportation Systems Division. There were 6 shuttles built, Enterprise OV-
101 (Orbital Vehicle) for testing, Columbia OV-102, Challenger OV-099, Discovery OV-103,
Atlantis OV-104 and Endeavour OV-105. The first of 135 Space Shuttle missions took place April
12, 1981 and lasted 2 days 6 hours when STS-1 (Space Transportation System) was launched
using Space Shuttle Columbia. Of the 135 mission launches there were 2 tragedies when
Columbia and Challenger plus their crews were lost.
Specifications :
| Weight (with three shuttle main engines) : | 151,315 lb (69 t) |
| Dimensions | |
| Assembled Space Shuttle: | 184 ft (56.08 m) |
| Orbiter Length: | 122.17 ft (37.2 m) |
| Height: | 56.58 ft (17.25 m) |
| Wingspan: | 78.06 ft (23.79 m) |
| Wings Only: | 60 ft (18.3 m) |
| Vertical stabilizer: | 26.31 ft (8.01 m) |
| Payload Bay Doors | |
| Length: | 60 ft (18.3 m) |
| Width: | 17 ft (5.2 m) |
| Height: | 13 ft (4.0 m) |
| Weight (varies depending on payload and other factors) | |
| Lift Off: | 4,500,000 lb (2,041,166 kg) |
| Speed: | 17,321 mph (27,875 km/h) |
| Orbit Altitude Depending On Mission: | Between 115 miles to 400 miles (185 km to 643.7 km) |