Cartoon Commemorates Shuttle Program

By Nancy Atkinson - April 05, 2011 02:40 PM UTC | Space Exploration

“Red and Rover” pay tribute to the space shuttle program, racing alongside the space shuttle as it lands for the final time later this year. Cartoonist and space exploration supporter Brian Basset created this commemorative drawing for NASA, to honor the shuttles. A poster commemorating the program's 30th anniversary will feature Basset's cartoon and a patch selected as part of a contest among NASA employees to honor the program.

"The U.S. space program has been the one constant throughout my entire life," Basset said. "I was humbled and honored when given the opportunity to create the art for the commemorative Space Shuttle Program 30th anniversary poster."

"Red and Rover" is a great cartoon series about the unconditional love between a boy and his dog. The two often dream of going to space together. But it won’t be on a space shuttle.

Download a copy of the cartoon/poster, and learn more about the it and Basset at this NASA link, and the press release.

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Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson is a space journalist and author with a passion for telling the stories of people involved in space exploration and astronomy. She is currently retired from daily writing, but worked at Universe Today for 20 years as a writer and editor. She also contributed articles to The Planetary Society, Ad Astra (National Space Society), New Scientist and many other online outlets.

Her 2019 book, "Eight Years to the Moon: The History of the Apollo Missions,” shares the untold stories of engineers and scientists who worked behind the scenes to make the Apollo program so successful, despite the daunting odds against it. Her first book “Incredible Stories From Space: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Missions Changing Our View of the Cosmos” (2016) tells the stories of 37 scientists and engineers that work on several current NASA robotic missions to explore the solar system and beyond.

Nancy is also a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, and through this program, she has the opportunity to share her passion of space and astronomy with children and adults through presentations and programs. Nancy's personal website is nancyatkinson.com