Scale:1:144 

Age:10+

Number of parts:97

Length:437 mm

Height:437 mm

The development of a transport system for NASA, reusable in its main components, began in 1972 at North American Rockwell and a number of other companies. The total weight of the Space Shuttle ready for launch is 2,055 t. It can carry a payload of 30 t to an orbit up to 965 km above Earth. The orbiter prototype, the Enterprise , was completed in 1976. The Enterprise was used to research flight and landing characteristics in the atmosphere and in the development of the space-qualified shuttle. The first launch of a space shuttle into space then occurred on April 12, 1981, with the space shuttle Columbia . With the completion of further orbiters from 1983 onwards, NASA considerably intensified its scientific-experimental and military-strategic activities together with the US Air Force. Communication and research satellites were transported into space, on-site repairs were carried out, and the U.S. space station was built and supplied. Challenger was in space for the first time on April 4, 1983. Discovery lifted off for the first time on August 30, 1984. Since Oct. 3, 1985, the fourth space shuttle, Atlantis, has been on 26 missions. Endeavour completed its first launch on May 7, 1992. This shuttle was equipped with numerous new devices and computers, making it more powerful overall. The orbiters can remain in space for a maximum of 28 days. The enormous structural and thermal stresses during launch and landing require constant checks and maintenance of all components, as well as equipment improvements. The heat shield on the front and underside of the space shuttle is particularly affected by this and must be constantly monitored and repaired. Two tragic accidents that killed the entire crew resulted in the loss of Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003. After a two-year hiatus and extensive modifications to the orbiters and main tank, flights resumed. With its landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California on August 9, 2005, Discovery's 31st flight and NASA's 114th Space Shuttle mission were successfully completed. With the resumption of shuttle flights, the expansion of the International Space Station ISS will continue in the coming years. This will also include the European space laboratory Columbus.

• Opening cargo bay doors
• Movable transport arm
• External fuel tank with two solid rocket boosters
• Mobile launch pad
• Three detailed rocket engine end stages

Super decals:

• Orbiter "Enterprise", "Discovery", "Atlantis", "Endeavour" before 1998
• Orbiter "Enterprise", "Discovery", "Atlantis", "Endeavour" after 1998

Scope of delivery:

Kit incl. building instructions and decal