Flown thermal barrier carried on board the Space Shuttle Atlantis during mission STS-86 from September 25 to October 9, 1997. Barrier measures 11.5″ in diameter and was installed at the orbiter’s mold line (OML). Barriers such as this one utilized an inner tubular spring made from inconel wire and helped insure the orbiter’s frame did not exceed 350 degrees while in space. Barrier was removed from Atlantis on April 8, 1998, after a post-flight inspection showed this barrier was damaged, and subsequently scrapped. An orange non-conforming material tag is attached to the barrier and labeled on the reverse, “Scrap.” Flown status presumed by shuttle memorabilia specialist Ken Havekotte. RR Auction COA.
