STS-134 in Star Trek’s footsteps

 

Recent changes to the space shuttle flight schedule have had an unexpected effect: the crew poster for the last space shuttle mission is out before that for the last but one mission! We would reiterate that not so very long ago, STS-134 with Endeavour (tasked with delivering the AMS experiment to the ISS) was to take place before STS-133 with Discovery, the ultimate scheduled flight of the space shuttle programme (a logistics mission also to the ISS). But it was decided to modify the AMS, Alpha-Magnetic Spectrometer, in order to extend its operational life. Attached to the outside of the Station, the AMS is notably to detect antimatter in orbit, an experiment much-awaited by numerous astrophysicists. The time required for the modification pushed STS-134 back to November 2010, after STS-133 which is still scheduled for September. Dates which are however likely to change... But because STS-134 was scheduled first for a time, certain steps have already been carried out such as that relating to the designing of its poster, a more informal and fun way of presenting the mission than the traditional crew photograph.

The poster for STS-134 mission and the 2009 film poster for Star Trek; the allusion is obvious! Credit: NASA/Paramount (Star Trek poster reproduced for text illustration purposes only)

We note then the return of the Star Trek theme, reflecting what was done by Expedition 21. But this time, instead of paying homage to the original television series, the artwork has taken its inspiration from the 2009 film poster created by J. J. Abrams. In both cases, we have the impression of being propelled along with the astronauts towards the stars, there “where no man has gone before”.

Expedition 21 under the command of European astronaut Frank De Winne also paid tribute to Star Trek and more exactly to the original television series. Credit: NASA

Other mission posters with this Enjoy Space portfolio.

Published on 20 May 2010