NASA Space Shuttle Embedded Pen Blanks – Endeavour

NASA Space Shuttle Endeavour Embedded Pen BlanksNASA Space Shuttle Endeavour space-flown double embedded material blanks for Jr Series, Sierra Clone, and Shuttle Kit (Wood Turningz), and custom order tube size blanks available as singles or sets. All blanks will come with one COA per blank. COAs are 4" x 6" card stock with foil COA seal. Blank Tube Size Descriptions: Jr Series blanks are double tube set 12.5mm tubes and 10.5mm lower tubes Sierra Clone blanks are single 27/64" tubes Shuttle Kit blanks are for the Shuttle Kit from Wood Turningz single 10mm tube. Custom single Tube or Double Tube Sets available. (Two Week Delivery) Specify tube size needed in notes at check out. Space Shuttle Endeavour materials:Hardin Penworks, LLC, certifies that material supplied to the artisan of the accompanying hand-crafted item was sourced from the Space Shuttle Endeavour, NASA’s Orbiter Vehicle OV-105. The embedded upper foil was sourced from an insulating blanket flown on the Endeavour during the 10-day STS-77 mission. This mission was the 11th flight of the Endeavour and the 77th mission of the Space Shuttle program. During the orbiter’s flight, the Endeavor crew performed microgravity research aboard the commercially owned and operated SPACEHAB module. The mission also deployed and retrieved the Spartan-207/IAE satellite and rendezvoused with a test satellite. The lower embedded material is foam tile from multiple shuttle missions. During nearly 19 years of service, the Endeavour flew 25 missions, carried 173 crew members, orbited our Earth 4,671 times, traveled 122,883,151 miles, and spent 296 days, 3 hours, 34 minutes, and 2 seconds in space travel. Material Vision & Turning Notes:Endeavour blanks combine insulating blanket foil from the STS-77 microgravity research mission with foam tile from across the program, producing a beautiful interplay of metallic sheen and lightweight thermal material. These respond excellently to standard turning methods with feather-light passes to protect the delicate embedded elements. Turn them into standout Jr Series, Sierra, or custom pens that celebrate one of NASA’s most versatile orbiters. Finish Recommendation: For the ultimate mirror-like shine that highlights every detail of the space-flown materials, we recommend our Magic Juice Polishing Compound. Space Shuttle history:The Space Shuttle was the first operational orbital spacecraft designed for reuse. Each Shuttle was designed for a projected lifespan of 100 launches or ten years of operational life, although this was later extended. Each Space Shuttle was a reusable launch system composed of three main assemblies: the reusable orbital vehicle (OV), the expendable ET, and the two reusable solid rocket boosters (SRB). Only the OV entered orbit shortly after the tank and boosters are jettisoned. The vehicle was launched vertically like a conventional rocket, and the orbiter glided to a horizontal landing like an airplane, after which it was refurbished for reuse. The SRBs parachuted to splashdown in the ocean where they were towed back to shore and refurbished for later Shuttle missions. Five operational OVs were built: Columbia (OV-102), Challenger (OV-099), Discovery (OV-103), Atlantis (OV-104), and Endeavour (OV-105). A mock-up, Inspiration, currently stands at the entrance to the Astronaut Hall of Fame. An additional craft, Enterprise (OV-101), was built for atmospheric testing gliding and landing; it was originally intended to be outfitted for orbital operations after the test program, but it was found more economical to upgrade the structural test article STA-099 into orbiter Challenger (OV-099).