Space and Astronomy Atlas

How The Universe Works
Missions and Programs

Space Shuttle Program

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NASA's program of reusable crewed spacecraft, flying 135 missions between 1981 and 2011. It built the International Space Station, serviced the Hubble Space Telescope, and suffered two fatal accidents, Challenger in 1986 and Columbia in 2003.

Facts
Mission Type
Reusable crewed spacecraft program 1
Launch Date
1981-04-12 1
First flight, STS-1.
End Date
2011-07-21 1
Final landing, STS-135.
Outcome
Retired after 135 missions; two orbiters, Challenger and Columbia, were lost with all crew, leading to major safety redesigns after each accident. 1
Cross-Tradition Connections

Associated With

Maxime Faget, Pioneers

Contributed to the basic aerodynamic shape of the Space Shuttle.

Crewed By

Operated By

Sources
1. NASA History Office
National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationCrewed By: Eileen Collins, Eileen Collins, lead paragraph section
Quote, Crewed By: Eileen Collins, Eileen Collins, lead paragraph section
the first woman to pilot the Space Shuttle
Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationCrewed By: Mae Jemison, Mae Jemison, lead paragraph section
Quote, Crewed By: Mae Jemison, Mae Jemison, lead paragraph section
aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour in 1992
Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationCrewed By: Chris Hadfield, Chris Hadfield, Career section
Quote, Crewed By: Chris Hadfield, Chris Hadfield, Career section
Hadfield performed two spacewalks
Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia FoundationAssociated With: Maxime Faget, Maxime Faget, lead section
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