The space shuttle is a partially reusable low earth orbital spacecraft system that was operated from 1981 to 2011 by the u. The last space shuttle flight, the 5th, was launched on july 8, 2011. Its official program name was space transportation system, taken from a 1969 plan for a system of reusable spacecraft of. Shuttle patch space shuttle mission patches the space. During the 30 year program there were many firsts including the first american woman and first africanamerican into space and achievements like the deployment of the hubble space telescope and construction of the international space station. Feb 02, 2017 the latter all already worked for nasa on the space shuttle and iss programs. Commander hoot gibson and pilot guy gardner flew the approach, while mission specialist mike mullane, at the other end of the flight deck, readied the shuttles robot arm for a. Columbia deployed numerous satellites and operated several times as a laboratory in space during its missions and was the only shuttle to land at white sands space harbor, in las cruces, n. National aeronautics and space administration nasa as part of the space shuttle program. The 30 year program accomplished so much and left behind a legacy of exploration that paves the way for the next generation of spacecraft. Three spacecraft survive in retirement as specimens in museums around the country. Sts1 was the first shuttle flight in the space shuttle program. The space shuttle has a history filled with many milestones and high points. All major systems of the shuttle were successfully tested during sts1.
Born in 1968 at the height of the apollo program, the space shuttle was designed to fulfill two basic roles in nasa postapollo manned flight objectives. Jan 25, 2019 10 of the most important space missions in history. As we near the end of the program, lets look back at the past few decades of shuttle history. Eleven space shuttle missions, a joint soyuz flight and almost cumulative days in space for american astronauts occurred over the. The final shuttle flight, nasas sts5 mission aboard. The history of the national space transportation system the first 100 missions. The history of the national space transportation system. You can also view archives of the 5 missions of the worlds first reusable spacecraft. Naming in the us space shuttle sts program the shuttle is officially referred to as the. The space shuttle challenger, which was first called sta099, was built to serve as a test vehicle for nasas shuttle program. Soon, the worlds first reusable spacecraft will retire to make way for nasas next phase. Starting with columbia and continuing with challenger, discovery, atlantis and endeavour, the spacecraft has carried people into orbit repeatedly. The first missions were always given a number based on the sequence it was in for its flight.
The shuttle columbia lifts off on the first space shuttle mission ever, sts1. The mission featured the deployment of the hubble space telescope, the first of nasas great. But after three decades and 5 flights, the era of the nasa space shuttle is at an end. On february 1, 2003, the space shuttle columbia broke up while returning sts107 to earth over texas. National aeronautics and space administration nasa. Jul 21, 2011 nasas pioneering reusable space transportation system sts was in operation for 30 years. Nasa announced that subsequent crewed missions would use the russian soyuz spacecraft as well as spacecraft built by american companies.
Space shuttle exploration mission collectibles for sale ebay. Deputy director bob cabana, space shuttle program manager bill parsons and space shuttle program mer manager lead david moyer were the major speakers on hand at this event. The 25th mission of the united states space shuttle program launched on january 28, 1986. Get the best deals on space shuttle exploration mission collectibles when you shop the largest online selection at.
May 30, 2011 from the shuttle columbia and challenger disasters to the launch of hubble and the building of the international space station, here are the highlights and most memorable missions from the 30. The future of space exploration through the space shuttle program may provide humanity with the answers to questions of their past and destiny. This was just the 25th space shuttle mission, and it became stunningly clear that major modifications to the entire space shuttle program were called for. Nasas pioneering reusable space transportation system sts was in operation for 30 years. The space shuttle discovery launched on its sts31 mission on april 24, 1990 at 8. Nasa, spacex set may 27 as target date for first crew. During that time period the fleet logged 1,322 days, 19 hours, 21 minutes and 23 seconds of flight time. Space shuttle mission 2007tm is the newest, most exciting and affordable space shuttle simulator available today, designed to provide the experience and excitement of the nasa space shuttle missions of orbital space exploration in extreme detail. Commander hoot gibson and pilot guy gardner flew the approach, while mission specialist mike mullane, at the other end of the flight deck, readied the shuttle s robot arm for a capture. Get the latest updates on nasa missions, subscribe to blogs, rss feeds and podcasts, watch nasa tv live, or simply read about our mission to pioneer the future in space exploration, scientific discovery and aeronautics research. The shuttlemir missions were all space shuttle missions, and are also counted under the space shuttle program missions in the table. Operational missions launched numerous satellites, interplanetary probes, and the hubble space telescope hst. The components were arranged in various configurations to meet the needs of each spaceflight.
A decade in the making, nasa and spacex have set may 27 as the target launch date for the first crewed space mission to launch into orbit from u. For missions flown by the soviet buran spacecraft, sometimes referred to as a space. By the time it landed on july 21st to complete the space shuttle program s storied 30 year history, atlantis orbited the earth 200 times on its 33 missions and entered the record books. Mercury gemini apollo skylab apollosoyuz test project space shuttle others. Mar, 2020 space shuttle flights resumed on july 26, 2005, with the launch of discovery. Several have flown in space material in the medallion. Nasas space shuttle program officially ends after final. Space shuttles could carry satellites, space probes, and other cargo into orbit around earth on both commercial and noncommercial missions. Its official program name was space transportation system sts, taken from. Nasa s space shuttle fleet began setting records with its first launch on april 12, 1981 and continued to set high marks of achievement and endurance through 30 years of missions. Nasas space shuttle was unlike any other spacecraft built during the 30. The first 100 missions is one of the most amazing technical books on space vehicles ever printed. Nasas space shuttle program began in 1972 when president nixon approved the program that would ferry astronauts between earth and the low earth orbiting space station though reagan didnt approve the space station part of the program.
For missions flown by the soviet buran spacecraft, sometimes referred to as a space shuttle, see list of buran missions. Specific shuttle missions were therefore designated with the prefix sts. List of space shuttle missions national aeronautics and. Space shuttle program official mission complete commemorative bronze medallionofficial nasa mission complete medallion in antique bronze contains flown metal. Nasas space shuttles have racked up an amazing set of accomplishments over the last 30 years, not to mention the miles and statistics. Read cnn s space shuttle program fast facts for a look at the nasa program, which ended in 2011 after 5 missions.
Ten years after the challenger disaster, two large pieces from the spacecraft washed ashore on a florida beach. This is why commitment to the space shuttle program is the right step for america to take, in moving out from our present beachhead in the sky to achieve a real working presence in space because the space shuttle will give us routine access to space by sharply reducing costs in dollars and preparation time. The space shuttle program a program that defined a generation. Jul 21, 2011 every space shuttle mission had its own mission emblem, designed and worn by the crews. Every space shuttle ever launched, in order youtube. The space shuttle was essential for completing the iss, but would not be helpful for the new program called constellation that would take us out of. Timeline of the shuttle program us space shuttle program. Nasas space shuttle rises from the dead to power new. Nasas final space shuttle mission comes to an end history. Steve garber, nasa history web curator for further. History of the space shuttle includes general information, technical information, publications, and information about specific missions. It is online for historical purposes only and does not reflect the many changes or improvements to the shuttle.
Nasa ended the shuttle program seven years ago after 5 missions as the space agency shifted its priorities to developing hardware for deep space travel. In 2011, the storied space shuttle flew for the last time. The laboratory comprised multiple components, including a pressurized module, an unpressurized carrier and other related hardware housed in the shuttles cargo bay. Jul 21, 2011 nasa is retiring the space shuttle fleet to make way for a new exploration program aimed at sending astronauts on deep space missions to an asteroid and, eventually, mars. The space shuttle columbia left, slated for mission sts 35. However, 1 minute, seconds after liftoff during the 25th launch on jan. Spacelab was a reusable laboratory developed by esa and used on certain spaceflights flown by the space shuttle.
This is a list of missions flown by space shuttles. With the final shuttle mission to launch july 8, now is as good a time as any to ask. At first, the launches were given sequential numbers indicating order of launch. The space shuttle program ssp plays a vital role in enabling nasas vision and mission. List of space shuttle missions wikipedia, the free. Its official program name was space transportation system sts, taken from a 1969 plan for a system of reusable spacecraft of which it was the only item funded for development. When its mission was complete, the orbiter would reenter.
Ten years after the challenger disaster, two large pieces from the. As of 2008, only the united states has flown human spaceflight shuttle missions, in the space shuttle program, while the soviet union flew one unmanned flight of the buran. Crippen were onboard sts1, the first orbital flight of the space shuttle program. The longest orbital flight of the shuttle was sts80 at 17 days 15 hours. After the success of the apollo 11 mission, nasa proposed an ambitious plan for a series of large space stations to be developed during the 1970s and a new reusable space transportation system to send people and supplies to those stations, lunar bases, and crewed missions to mars in the 1980s. The shuttle an interactive site from nasa that provides an overview of the shuttle program, a timeline, videos, and more. While missions resumed in july 2005, the space shuttle program ended in 2011.
Eleven space shuttle missions, a joint soyuz flight and almost cumulative days in space for american astronauts occurred over the course of seven longduration expeditions. Also in the 1990s, the space shuttle launched the hubble telescope into space. Space exploration space exploration the space shuttle. Each year in january, nasa honors its lost astronauts in ceremonies marking the loss of space shuttles challenger and columbia, and the apollo 1 spacecraft. From 1981 to 2011 a total of 5 missions were flown, all launched from kennedy space center ksc in florida. The program rebounded in april 1990 with the successful mission of discovery. From april 1981 through january 1986, 25 space shuttle launches were conducted.
Centered in this photo are the embroidered patches for the first and last missions, sts1 and sts5. The space shuttle program was suspended in the wake of the accident, and no shuttles were launched for nearly three years. Nasa selects 9 astronauts for first crewed boeing, spacex. Sts is the official name of the space shuttle program and stands for space transportation system. The giant gold and silver satellite glittered against the black sky as space shuttle atlantis closed in on it from below.
The amount of historical, technical, and operational information packed into these couple hundred pages is amazing. And the orbiter fleet never flew more than nine missions in a single year. Nasas final space shuttle mission comes to an end on this day in 2011, nasas space shuttle program completes its final, and 5th, mission, when the shuttle atlantis lands at kennedy space. Nasa medallions the space store has several unique and limited in number released medallions. Shuttle missions returned 5 times to repair and improve cameras and scientific instruments on the telescope. This was the 35th shuttle mission to the station and the final flight of discovery. Kennedy space center, a typical space shuttle mission lasted ten. Space shuttle program nasas five space shuttle orbiters were the first spacecraft capable of routinely launching into space like rockets and then returning to earth as gliders. Beginning the constellation program meant transferring people that were working space shuttle andor iss to constellation. President nixons 1972 announcement on the space shuttle. The final space shuttle mission, sts5, ended july 21, 2011 when atlantis rolled to a stop at its home port, nasas kennedy space center in. This includes advancing human exploration and providing safe access to space. Space shuttle quotes commitment to the space shuttle program is the right step for america to take, in.
Jul 28, 2019 nasas final space shuttle mission comes to an end on this day in 2011, nasas space shuttle program completes its final, and 5th, mission, when the shuttle atlantis lands at kennedy space. Nasas space shuttle fleet began setting records with its first launch on april 12, 1981 and continued to set high marks of achievement and endurance through 30 years of missions. Nasas storied space shuttle program has seen some amazing highs, and a couple devastating lows over the course of its 30year history. But for now, heres a look back at the most memorable missions of the space shuttles tenure. The space shuttle flew for the final time and the program retired with sts5. The orbiter vehicle used in the mission sts1, shuttle columbia, spent a record 610 days in the orbiter processing facility opf before launch to replace many of its heat shield tiles. By the end of the thirtyyear program, the distinctly recognizable spacecraft became an american icon, serving the nation as the host for scientific space research. The space shuttle was a partially reusable low earth orbital spacecraft system operated by the u. The space shuttle orbiter is the spaceplane component of the space shuttle, a partially reusable orbital spacecraft system that was part of the space shuttle program. List of space shuttle missions wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The space shuttle program was the fourth human spaceflight program carried out by the national aeronautics and space administration nasa, which accomplished routine transportation for earthtoorbit crew and cargo from 1981 to 2011. The mission was devoted entirely to spacelab l, a joint nasaeuropean space agency program designed to demonstrate the ability to conduct advanced scientific research in space, with astronauts and payload specialists working in the spacelab module and coordinating their efforts with scientists at the marshall payload operations control center then located at the johnson space center.
Visit the space shuttle site for information about the 30yearlong space shuttle program. The first goal of the space shuttle program was to provide nasa with an efficient, reusable method of carrying astronauts to and from a permanently manned space station. Space shuttle flights resumed on july 26, 2005, with the launch of discovery. Sts51l was the tenth mission to be conducted on the challenger space shuttle, but a failed rocket booster led to the shuttle s disintegration and. Even though the shuttle program has suffered two tremendous disasters, its dozens of successful missions have made great strides in space travel and exploration during its short history. All four orbiters in the fleet columbia, challenger, discovery and atlantis were flown. The space shuttle was retired from service upon the conclusion of sts5. This document is an exact hypertexting of the nsts news reference manual that was handed out to the press in september 1988. Jsc features space shuttle program mission evaluation.
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