Space Shuttle program

Also known as Space Transportation System, STS

United States government's crewed launch vehicle program, administered by NASA from 1972 to 2011

Key facts

Country: United States
Organization: NASA
Purpose: Crewed orbital flight
Status: Completed
Cost: US$ 196 billion (2011)
Duration: 1972–2011
First flight: August 12, 1977 ( 1977-08-12 ) ( ALT-12 )
First crewed flight: April 12, 1981 ( 1981-04-12 ) ( STS-1 )
Last flight: July 21, 2011 ( 2011-07-21 ) ( STS-135 )
Failures: 2 ( STS-51-L , STS-107 )
Partial failures: 1 ( STS-83 )
Launch sites: Kennedy , LC-39A Kennedy, LC-39B

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Article

The Space Shuttle program was the fourth human spaceflight program carried out by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), which accomplished routine transportation for Earth-to-orbit crew and cargo from 1981 to 2011. Its official program name was carried over from the 1969 plan for the Space Transportation System (STS) of reusable spacecraft. Only the shuttle and supporting rockets were funded for development; a proposed nuclear lunar shuttle in the plan was canceled in 1972. It flew 135 missions and carried 355 astronauts from 16 countries, many on multiple trips.

The Space Shuttle, composed of an orbiter launched with two reusable solid rocket boosters and a disposable external fuel tank, carried up to eight astronauts and up to 50,000 lb (23,000 kg) of payload into low Earth orbit (LEO). When its mission was complete, the orbiter would reenter the Earth's atmosphere and land like a glider at either the Kennedy Space Center or Edwards Air Force Base.