Smoking pipes
by Hemper
The Space Shuttle Hand Pipe is a borosilicate glass hand pipe shaped like the iconic US Space Shuttle — complete with gold highlights, an opaque white body, and a miniature American flag above the wings. At just 12.7 cm long, it fits in your palm or pocket and delivers smooth, flavour-packed hits through the shuttle's nose cone. It's a novelty piece that actually smokes well, which is rarer than you'd think.
A novelty pipe that actually functions as a proper daily driver — that's the short version. Hemper have built this Space Shuttle hand pipe from borosilicate glass, the same heat-resistant material used in lab equipment and decent bongs. It won't crack from thermal shock when you light up, and it won't leach weird flavours into your smoke the way cheap soda-lime glass does. You can feel the weight of it — solid, not flimsy. The gold accents catch the light nicely, and the American flag detail above the wings is a surprisingly sharp touch for a pipe at this price point.
The honest limitation? Cleaning. The shuttle shape means there are a few tight corners inside that a standard pipe cleaner won't reach easily. You'll want to soak it in isopropyl alcohol and coarse salt every few sessions to keep the airflow clear. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's worth knowing upfront. Compared to a standard spoon pipe, you're trading easy maintenance for a conversation starter that genuinely looks brilliant on a shelf.
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Brand | Hemper |
| SKU | HS2586 |
| Material | Borosilicate glass |
| Length | 12.7 cm (5 inches) |
| Diameter | 6.3 cm (2.5 inches) |
| Height | 4.3 cm (1.7 inches) |
| Body colour | Opaque white with gold highlights |
| Details | Miniature American flag above the wings |
| Bowl location | Bottom (engine section) |
| Mouthpiece | Nose cone of the shuttle |
Complete your setup with a decent grinder — a 4-piece aluminium grinder gives you a fine, even consistency that packs better and burns more evenly in a small bowl like this one. Pipe cleaners and isopropyl alcohol are also worth keeping on hand for maintenance between sessions.
We've seen hundreds of novelty pipes come through the shop over the years. Most of them look fun in photos and smoke like rubbish — thin glass, restricted airflow, bowls that are either too shallow to pack properly or too deep to light evenly. The Hemper Space Shuttle hand pipe avoids those traps. The bowl sits in the engine section at the bottom, which is a natural position for packing and lighting. The airpath runs up through the body and out the nose cone, giving you a surprisingly smooth draw for something that measures just 12.7 cm end to end.
The 6.3 cm diameter means it sits stable on a flat surface without rolling, and the 4.3 cm height keeps it low-profile. Toss it in a padded case or wrap it in a sock — borosilicate is tough, but glass is still glass. We'd pick this over a silicone novelty pipe any day: silicone doesn't break, sure, but it also doesn't deliver the same clean flavour that glass does. If you want something that looks genuinely cool, smokes properly, and sparks a conversation every time someone spots it on your coffee table, this is the one.
We've been stocking Hemper pieces for a while now, and the build quality is consistently above what you'd expect at this price range. The glass on this Space Shuttle hand pipe has a proper thickness to it — you can feel it when you hold it. It's not featherweight like some of the cheaper novelty pipes that feel like they'll shatter if you look at them wrong. The gold detailing is painted on rather than embedded, so avoid scrubbing those areas aggressively during cleaning. A gentle soak does the job without stripping the finish.
One thing we get asked: does it stand upright on its own? Not really — the shuttle shape means it sits on its belly, which is fine for display but means your packed bowl faces downward. Pack lightly if you're setting it down between hits, or you'll lose herb. It's a small thing, but worth knowing before you load a full bowl and flip it over.
Yes. It's borosilicate glass — the same type used in laboratory glassware. It handles heat well and resists thermal shock far better than standard glass. That said, drop it on tiles and it will still break. Treat it like you would any glass pipe.
Soak it in isopropyl alcohol (90% or higher) with a tablespoon of coarse salt for 30–60 minutes. The salt acts as an abrasive to loosen resin. Rinse thoroughly with warm water afterwards. Avoid scrubbing the gold detailing too hard — a soak does most of the work.
At 12.7 cm long and 4.3 cm tall, it fits in most jacket pockets or small bags. Wrap it in something soft — a microfibre cloth or padded pouch — to protect the glass and the painted details during transport.
Most Hemper hand pipes include a carb hole for clearing the chamber. Check the side of the shuttle body — you'll find it near the bowl. Cover it while inhaling and release at the end of your draw for a full clear.
It's designed for dry herbs, not concentrates. You could technically drop a small piece of concentrate onto a bed of herb, but for proper concentrate use you'd want a dab rig or a pipe with a quartz banger. Stick to ground herb for the best experience with this one.
With careful cleaning, the gold highlights last well. Avoid abrasive scrubbing directly on the painted areas. Soaking in isopropyl rather than scrubbing is the best approach. Some fading is possible with heavy use over months, but it's cosmetic — it won't affect how the pipe smokes.
Last updated: April 2026
