How Was Space Shuttle "Atlantis" Named?

Space Shuttle Orbiter Atlantis (NASA Orbiter Vehicle Designation: OV-104) is one of the space shuttle fleet belonging to the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). She was the fourth operational shuttle built and after February 2003 is one of only three (along with Discovery and Endeavour) fully operational shuttles remaining in the fleet, following the destructions of Challenger (1986) and Columbia (2003).

Atlantis was named in honor of the first United States oceanographic research vessel, a two-masted sailing ship operated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution from 1930 to 1966, as well as the mythical island of Atlantis. (Wikipedia)

UPDATE: The Space Shuttle Atlantis successfully blasted off around 11:10am from Florida on September 9, 2006.

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posted by Staff @ 2:26 PM