Dimension Science on Instagram: "On July 10, 2011, Space Shuttle Atlantis carried out the Rendezvous Pitch Maneuver (RPM) during its final approach to the International Space Station. This maneuver was part of the shuttle’s last mission, STS-135, which marked the end of NASA’s Space Shuttle program. The RPM involved Atlantis performing a slow, controlled 360-degree rotation lasting about nine minutes. The shuttle rotated around its pitch axis while maintaining a precise distance and alignment wi

Space | Earth | Astronomy 🔭 on Instagram: "Imagine holding something that’s still glowing red-hot - and not getting burned. 😳🔥 NASA’s Space Shuttle was protected by incredibly advanced heat-resistant tiles that could withstand temperatures of up to 2,300°F. Most of the orbiter was covered in LI-900 silica tiles, made from extremely pure quartz sand. Their job was to shield the shuttle’s aluminum body from the brutal heat of re-entry. These tiles were such poor heat conductors that even when t