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	+ Home Search Aviation Systems		Division Highlights Space Shuttle Atlantis Moves To Its New Home November 14, 2012 From left: NASA's Director for External Relations, Cheryl Hurst, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden, STS-135 Commander Chris Ferguson, STS-51J Commander Karol Bobko, Kennedy Space Center Director Robert Cabana, and Chief Operating Officer of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, William Moore, stand together following a signing ceremony for space shuttle Atlantis. (Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls) On Friday, November 2nd, the space shuttle Atlantis completed its final journey to its new home at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex in Florida. During a signing ceremony, NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Kennedy Space Center Director Robert Cabana officially transferred the retired shuttle into its new role as a museum exhibit. Thousands attended the celebration, including our very own Karol “Bo” Bobko. Mr. Bobko spoke during the ceremony, reflecting on his experience as commander of Atlantis' first space flight in October 1985. Chris Ferguson, the commander of Atlantis' final flight in July 2011, was also on hand for the celebration. Following the signing ceremony, Atlantis traveled its final ten miles from the Kennedy Space Center’s Vehicle Assembly Building to its permanent museum location at the Visitor Complex. Prior to its retirement, Atlantis traveled 125,935,769 miles during 33 space flights, and orbited the Earth 4,848 times. The Atlantis exhibit is currently still under construction and is slated to open next summer. From left: NASA's Director for External Relations, Cheryl Hurst, STS-135 Commander Chris Ferguson, STS-51J Commander Karol Bobko, and Chief Operating Officer of the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, William Moore, watch as NASA Administrator Charles Bolden and Kennedy Space Center Director Robert Cabana sign to officially transfer ownership of space shuttle Atlantis from NASA to the Kennedy Space Center. (Photo Credit: Jason Rhian/AmericaSpace) Karol Bobko, who commanded STS-51J, the first flight of space shuttle Atlantis, speaks at the signing ceremony. (Photo Credit: NASA/Bill Ingalls) + Back to Top
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