Atlantis NASA Space Shuttle Embedded Pen Blanks

NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis Embedded Pen Blanks

NASA Space Shuttle Atlantis 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. Explore more embedded blanks and sibling shuttle collections.

All blanks will come with one COA per blank.
COAs are 4" x 6" card stock with foil COA seal. See our full COA blanks selection.

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 — pair with compatible pen component sets

• 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.

Browse all pen blanks or what's new arrivals.

Space Shuttle Atlantis materials:

Hardin Collectibles, LLC, certifies that material supplied to the artisan of the accompanying hand-crafted item was sourced from the Space Shuttle Atlantis, NASA’s Orbiter Vehicle OV-104.

The embedded lower black material was sourced from a nose gear tire flown on the Atlantis during mission STS-27. This mission was the third flight of Atlantis launching on December 2, 1988 on a four-day mission where it carried a classified payload for the Department of Defense. The embedded upper foil was sourced from the Thermal Control System Blanket flown on the Atlantis during the STS-86 mission to the Mir space station for the seventh MIR docking mission.

During nearly 26 years of service from 1985 to 2011, the Atlantis flew 33 missions, carried 207 crew members, orbited our Earth 4,848 times, traveled 125,935,769 miles, and spent 306 days, 14 hours, 12 minutes, and 43 seconds in space travel. Discover more aviation relics and military relics.

Material Vision & Turning Notes:

Atlantis blanks combine the rugged texture of flown nose gear tire rubber with the reflective thermal blanket foil layers, creating dramatic contrast once polished. The materials accept standard woodturning techniques yet reward careful, light passes to preserve the embedded aerospace fibers. Turn these blanks into Jr Series, Sierra, or custom shuttle-style pens that become conversation pieces at any aviation event. Display finished work on pen display stands & COA holders.

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 Atlantis Service History

The Space Shuttle Atlantis stands as one of NASA’s most accomplished orbiters, logging an extraordinary record of scientific achievement, international cooperation, and defense support across 33 missions. Built by Rockwell International in Palmdale, California, Atlantis rolled out in 1985 as the fourth operational orbiter after Columbia, Challenger, and Discovery. Its name honors the two-masted steam-powered research vessel that operated for the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution from 1930 to 1966. The orbiter’s design incorporated lessons from earlier flights, featuring reinforced thermal protection tiles and upgraded avionics that supported its long service life.

Atlantis launched on its maiden voyage, STS-51-J, on 3 October 1985, deploying classified Department of Defense payloads. Early missions emphasized satellite deployment and retrieval, including the Galileo probe to Jupiter in 1989 and the Magellan Venus radar mapper. The orbiter’s robust airframe and upgraded systems allowed it to support longer-duration flights and complex rendezvous operations. These early successes demonstrated the reliability of the reusable spacecraft concept and paved the way for more ambitious scientific and exploration goals.

During the 1990s Atlantis became synonymous with the Russian Mir space station. It flew seven docking missions between 1995 and 1997, delivering supplies, rotating crews, and conducting joint experiments. STS-71 marked the first U.S.-Russian shuttle docking, while STS-86 delivered the final Mir crew rotation before the station’s decommissioning. The thermal control system blankets that supplied the foil embedded in these pen blanks flew on STS-86, protecting critical avionics from extreme temperature swings in low-Earth orbit. Each docking required precise navigation and highlighted international collaboration in space.

Atlantis also flew several Hubble Space Telescope servicing missions and numerous Spacelab and Spacehab research flights. Its payload bay hosted the Wake Shield Facility, the Wake Vortex experiment, and multiple biotechnology and materials science investigations. The orbiter’s final flight, STS-135, delivered the Raffaello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module to the International Space Station in July 2011, closing the Space Shuttle program. Throughout its career the vehicle underwent multiple orbiter maintenance down periods that extended its operational capability far beyond original projections.

Over its career Atlantis traveled more than 125 million miles, completed 4,848 orbits, and spent 306 days in space. It carried 207 individual astronauts representing NASA, ESA, RSA, JAXA, and CSA. Post-retirement, Atlantis was prepared for public display at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, where it remains a centerpiece of the Atlantis exhibit, inspiring new generations of makers and engineers. The vehicle’s structural integrity after decades of launches and reentries continues to impress aerospace historians and enthusiasts alike.

Enthusiasts prize Atlantis material for its direct connection to human spaceflight milestones. The nose-gear tire rubber from STS-27 embodies the rugged engineering required for classified defense missions, while the foil layers from STS-86 represent the thermal protection systems that enabled safe return from orbit. When turned and polished, these relics produce pens that carry authentic aerospace provenance and spark conversations about exploration, craftsmanship, and the reusable spacecraft era. Additional military and naval relic options are available in our US Navy ship wood collection. The orbiter’s legacy also includes contributions to the assembly of the International Space Station through multiple logistics flights that delivered critical modules and supplies, underscoring its role in advancing long-term human presence in space. Engineers and historians continue to study Atlantis’s flight data to inform next-generation reusable vehicles, ensuring its influence extends well beyond its final landing. Atlantis completed its final landing on 21 July 2011 at Kennedy Space Center, marking the end of the shuttle program while preserving irreplaceable hardware for future study and public inspiration.

No finished pens are included. Pen components sold separately from our pen kits or your preferred vendors.