STS-117 Hail Recovery Challenge Coin Lockheed Martin NASA United Space Alliance for Sale

STS-117 Hail Recovery Challenge Coin Lockheed Martin NASA United Space Alliance For Sale

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STS-117 Hail Recovery Challenge Coin Lockheed Martin NASA United Space Alliance:
$20000.00

Front of Challenge Coin reads STS-117 HAIL RECOVERY February 26 - May 15, 2007

Back of Challenge Coin reads Lockheed Martin NASA United Space Alliance

Center of back of coin reads “You have been selected to receive this medallion in recognition of your vital contribution to the recovery of the STS-117 External Tank significantly damaged in a hail storm.”

Frederick Sturckow, a Marine colonel, commanded STS-117. The mission delivered the second and third starboard truss segments (S3/S4) and another pair of solar arrays to the space station. Pilot Lee Archambault, an Air Force colonel, joined Sturckow in the shuttle’s cockpit. Mission specialists James Reilly II, Ph.D., Patrick Forrester, Steven Swanson, Ph.D., and John D. Olivas, Ph.D., rounded out the crew. STS-117 was the 21st shuttle mission to the International Space Station.

Expedition 15 Flight Engineer Sunita L. Williams returned to Earth from the space station aboard shuttle mission STS-117. That flight carried Expedition 15/16 Flight Engineer Clayton C. Anderson to the station. He is scheduled to return home aboard Discovery on mission STS-120.

Following a hailstorm at KSC on February 26, 2007, inspections of the stack found damage to the shuttle and the external tank. Hailstones as large as golf balls had created around 1,000–2,000 divots in the tank\'s foam insulation, damaged at least one Ice Frost Ramp on the tank, and caused minor surface damage to about 26 heat shield tiles on Atlantis\'s left wing.

On March 4, 2007, the STS-117 stack was similarly rolled back into the VAB. Following additional inspections, repairs to the orbiter and tank were carried out to return Atlantis to flight readiness. After completion of the repairs, Atlantis (along with her distinctly speckled external tank) was rolled out to pad 39A for the second time during the morning of May 15, 2007. A second Flight Readiness Review took place on May 30–31, 2007.

The hail damage to Atlantis caused major changes to the shuttle launch manifest at that time, pushing STS-118 back to August 8, 2007 (which could not have flown until the installation of the S3/S4 truss segment carried by Atlantis was completed), STS-120 back to October 23, 2007, and Atlantis\'s return on STS-122 back to a targeted launch date on December 6, 2007.

Discover a new treasure for your collection! You will receive this coin in exceptional condition, with free shipping! Buy a piece of America\'s history today, you\'ll love adding it to your collection.

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