"MarkStannaway" asked, on another thread, about how to identify the various Orbiters from pictures.
Rather than derail that thread, I'll answer here, and I suspect that the subject might raise a lot more questions.
Apart from Columbia, which had black upper chines, differences are pretty subtle. Every overhaul period produced some changes too. The same vehicle looked different at various times of its career.
Payload Bay configuration is one of the best ways to identify on-orbit photos. Every mission had differences there.
This German paper-modeler has produced the best reference that I have seen. Note that he also has payload information:
http://www.axmpaperspacescalemodels.com/REFERENCE.html
This site also had some good hints on their forum:
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum30 ... 00238.html
Rather than derail that thread, I'll answer here, and I suspect that the subject might raise a lot more questions.
Apart from Columbia, which had black upper chines, differences are pretty subtle. Every overhaul period produced some changes too. The same vehicle looked different at various times of its career.
Payload Bay configuration is one of the best ways to identify on-orbit photos. Every mission had differences there.
This German paper-modeler has produced the best reference that I have seen. Note that he also has payload information:
http://www.axmpaperspacescalemodels.com/REFERENCE.html
This site also had some good hints on their forum:
http://www.collectspace.com/ubb/Forum30 ... 00238.html
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