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Which Image is Real? Space Shuttle Atlantis

Below are 4 images.

Only one is real. I know this because I took it myself.

My photo is of the Space Shuttle Atlantis on display at the Kennedy Space Center.

The other 3 images are AI-generated. I created them using Ideogram.ai and ChatGPT.

Which one do you think is the real image? See the answer below!

The real image of the shuttle is:

Image #1

Some clues that give away the AI images:

🔥 1. Heat Shield Tiles

  • #1 (REAL): The thermal tiles on the nose and underside look weathered, uneven, and scorched, with subtle discoloration — exactly what you’d expect from a shuttle that’s reentered Earth’s atmosphere.
  • AI Images:
    • #2, #3, and #4 all have tiles that are too clean and uniform — especially on the nose and belly. They lack the scorched, asymmetric wear that defines real orbiter surfaces.

✍️ 2. Labeling and Texture

  • #1: The name “Atlantis” is subtly integrated into the fuselage with correct font and placement. The entire craft surface is textured with scuffs and real-world grime.
  • AI:
    • #3 and #4 both have over-sharp, too-perfect “Atlantis” labels and unusually crisp NASA and mission decals that look more like stickers than paint.
    • #2 also has a label, but the surrounding area is too clean.

🛠️ 3. Nose Details and Proportions

  • #1: The windows and contours of the shuttle’s nose are consistent with real Atlantis — including the slightly odd alignment of the windows and the wear around the sensor ports.
  • AI:
    • #3 and #4 have nose sections that look too inflated and overly smooth.
    • #2’s lower windows look slightly distorted, and the entire front section is almost too symmetrical.

đź§ł 4. Overall Surface Wear

  • #1: Has visible scratches, grime, and deep shadows in tile grooves — hallmarks of a real, flown orbiter.
  • AI:
    • #3 and #4 look like museum mockups — pristine, almost glossy in some spots.
    • #2 is close, but the lighting and lack of varied surface wear give it away.

Space Shuttle Atlantis

Watching this video gives me goosebumps. It’s HD video from the IMAX film crew of the 2010 launch of Atlantis. This mission was the one that delivered the Hubble Telescope into space.

It’s just a few minutes long and worth the watch!

More From the Senior Tech Cafe ‘Real or AI?’ Challenge

You can check out our archive of ‘Real or AI?’ challenges here

Senior Tech Cafe Team
Senior Tech Cafe Team
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