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This Is The Dragon 1/400 Space Shuttle Discovery w/ Boeing 747 Transporter (Space) 56184
Features:
- Three struts on which the space shuttle is attached
- Payload bay door on the shuttle
- Additional vertical stabilizer on the transporter to enhance directional
stability
- JT9D-7J gas turbine engine on the transporter
- Stylish Metal Stand included
- True to 1/400
- Highly detailed
- Highly collectible
- High quality diecast construction
- Display in flight or on the ground
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.
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