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Space Shuttle Program: Spanning 30 Years of Discovery

    Discovery and EnterpriseImage above: Space Shuttles Enterprise, left, and Discovery meet nose-to-nose at the beginning of a transfer ceremony at the Smithsonian's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Thursday, April 19, 2012, in Chantilly, Va. Space shuttle Discovery, the first orbiter retired from NASA’s shuttle fleet, completed 39 missions, spent 365 days in space, orbited the Earth 5,830 times, and traveled 148,221,675 miles will take the place of Enterprise at the center to commemorate past achievements in space and to educate and inspire future generations of explorers at the center. Photo Credit: NASA/Smithsonian Institution/Carolyn Russo
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    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. Starting with Columbia and continuing with Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour, the spacecraft has carried people into orbit repeatedly, launched, recovered and repaired satellites, conducted cutting-edge research and built the largest structure in space, the International Space Station. The final space shuttle mission, STS-135, ended July 21, 2011 when Atlantis rolled to a stop at its home port, NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

    As humanity's first reusable spacecraft, the space shuttle pushed the bounds of discovery ever farther, requiring not only advanced technologies but the tremendous effort of a vast workforce. Thousands of civil servants and contractors throughout NASA's field centers and across the nation have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to mission success and the greater goal of space exploration.

    › Preparing the Shuttles for Retirement
    › Where the Shuttles are Going
    › What's Next for NASA?

Shuttle Features

Endeavour Powered Down 20 Years after First Launch

Endeavour's darkened cockpit

Technicians switched off Endeavour's displays and systems for the final time.

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Discovery Departs Kennedy Space Center

Secured to the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, space shuttle Discovery departs Kennedy Space Center

Secured atop NASA's Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, space shuttle Discovery started its final journey with a sunrise takeoff at 7 a.m. EDT.

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SCA Crews Focus on Ferrying Shuttles Home

Shuttle Carrier Aircraft with shuttle Discovery atop

NASA 905 will support the last three shuttle ferry flights.

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Mission Extras

  • The Space Shuttle Experience

    The Space Shuttle Experience

    Participate in a variety of interactive experiences to learn about the accomplishments of the space shuttle program and how it affects your daily life.

    › Experience site  →

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