Where is the space shuttle Atlantis right now?

So, Where’s Atlantis Now? Let’s Find Out!

Okay, so you’re wondering where the Space Shuttle Atlantis is hanging out these days? As of today, July 28, 2025, you’ll find her safe and sound at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. Yep, she’s a permanent fixture there, the star of her very own “Space Shuttle Atlantis” exhibit, which has been wowing visitors since June 2013.

A Real Space Workhorse

Atlantis, or OV-104 if you’re into the official designations, wasn’t just any old shuttle. She was the fourth operational one built, and almost the last! Rockwell International, the folks who built her, delivered her to the Cape way back in April 1985. Can you believe it? Her maiden voyage, STS-51-J, blasted off on October 3rd of that year.

Now, get this: over her career, Atlantis completed 33 missions! She zipped around the Earth a staggering 4,848 times, racking up nearly 126 million miles. That’s like going to the moon and back…525 times! Talk about frequent flyer miles. Atlantis wasn’t just joyriding, though. She launched a bunch of communication satellites, including Lacrosse 1, and played a crucial role in building the International Space Station (ISS). She ferried essential parts and even delivered the Columbus laboratory. Seriously, she was a vital part of the whole operation. And get this, Atlantis had the honor of flying the very last mission of the entire Space Shuttle program, STS-135. She launched on July 8, 2011, and touched down for the final time at Kennedy Space Center on July 21, 2011. End of an era, right?

More Than Just a Museum Piece

The exhibit at Kennedy Space Center? It’s not just some dusty old display. It’s a full-on celebration of NASA’s Space Shuttle Program. You can really dive into the history, the amazing technology, and the huge impact this program had. And the way they’ve got Atlantis displayed is seriously cool. She’s tilted at a 43.21-degree angle, payload doors wide open, Canadarm extended, just like she looked when she undocked from the ISS. It’s like she’s still out there in orbit!

Get Hands-On!

This isn’t just a look-but-don’t-touch kind of place. The 90,000-square-foot exhibit is packed with over 60 interactive exhibits and simulators. You can explore all 135 shuttle missions through touch screens, test your spacewalk skills, or even try your hand at piloting the shuttle. Ever dreamed of docking with the International Space Station or landing at Kennedy Space Center? Here’s your chance! And if you’re feeling brave, you can even ride a re-entry slide to get a taste of what it was like to come back to Earth. Plus, there are replicas of all sorts of space gear, from rocket boosters to external tanks. It’s a space geek’s paradise!

Why Should You Go?

Honestly, a visit to the Space Shuttle Atlantis exhibit is a must. It’s a chance to see a real piece of space history up close and personal. It’s educational, it’s immersive, and it gives you a real sense of what it was like to live and work in space. Trust me, it’s an experience you won’t forget.