Huntsville in Madison County, Alabama — The American South (East South Central)

The Orbiter

U.S. Space & Rocket Center

Photographed by Sandra Hughes Tidwell, May 20, 2024

1. The Orbiter Marker

Inscription. Most commonly referred to as the Space Shuttle, the Orbiter was the only part of the Shuttle "Stack" that made the trip into orbit. Its Solid Rocket Boosters were jettisoned into the Atlantic Ocean, retrieved, and reused. The external tank was the only part of the stack not used again. It re-entered the atmosphere about nine minutes after launch and burned up over the Pacific Ocean.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Exploration.

Location. 34° 42.64′ N, 86° 39.172′ W. Marker is in Huntsville, Alabama, in Madison County. It can be reached from Tranquility Base west of Old Madison Pike when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Tranquility Base, Huntsville AL 35805, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in North Alabama.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Astronaut Facts (here, next to this marker); Seasoned Global Traveler (here, next to this marker); Discovery, OV-103 (here, next to this marker); Atlantis, OV-104 (a few steps from this marker); Flight Span 30 Years (a few steps from this marker); Main Engines (within shouting distance of this marker); Pathfinder Orbiter (within shouting distance of this marker); External Tank (within shouting

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distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Huntsville.

Also see . . . Meet the Orbiters. The five orbiters NASA built became the most complex fleet the world has ever seen: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour (Submitted on May 28, 2024, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

The Orbiter and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Craig Baker

2. The Orbiter and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 9, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 28, 2024, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 250 times since then and 11 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 28, 2024, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. 2. submitted on July 9, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.