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Red and Rover Space Shuttle to Retire Later This Year

WASHINGTON - After 30 years and more than 130 missions, NASA's space shuttle fleet "Red and Rover" will retire later this year.

Comic strip artist Brian Basset has created a drawing depicting his characters, Red and Rover, racing alongside the space shuttle as it lands for the final time.

A poster commemorating the Space Shuttle 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. I was humbled and honored when given the opportunity to create the art for the commemorative Space Shuttle Program 30th anniversary poster."-Mr. Basset

Basset, a supporter of space exploration, created "Red and Rover" in 2000. A comic strip with a retro feel, it is about the unconditional love between a boy and his dog. The pair often dreams of going to space together. Nominated by the National Cartoonists Society for Best Comic Strip of the Year in 2003 and 2010, "Red and Rover" appears in more than 160 newspapers worldwide and syndicated by Universal Uclick.

To download an electronic version of the 30th anniversary poster, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/imagegallery/image_feature_1911.html

Source: NASA