First space shuttle was launched in April 1981. Almost 30 years later Space Shuttle program has reached its final stage. This era will end when Atlantis complete its last mission. But the history of the space shuttle didn't begin in the early eighties, it took around two decades before the first launch that the idea fo a reusable manned space vehicle became real.
It seems that the idea of a reusable spacecraft began in the fifties, but it wasn't until 1969 that the Space Task Group, a group of Engineers in charge of Manned Spaceflight program, recommended the development of a new space transport. NASA initiated studies and designs of the new space vehicle in 1970. On January 5, 1972, President Richard Nixon announced the project, and on March 15, NASA announced the final details of design. The new vehicle would consist of two rockets, an external tank and a transport vehicle called orbiter. That year NASA gave the contracts. Rockwell Rocket Dyne Division would construct the orbiter's main engines, Rockwell Space Transportation would desing and develop the orbiter, Martin Marrietta would construct the external tank, and Morton Thoikol the solid rocket boosters.
The first orbiter constructed was Enterprise. Curiously, it got its name due to a massive request made by fans of Star Trek. The Enterprise was primarily designed for testing, so no engines and heat shield were added. After the completion of tests, the orbiter was toured for many European countries and states of the United States, before its retirement. On november 18, 1985, the Endevour was moved to Smithsonian Institution in Washington DC, where it was restored. Later, it was moved to National Air and Space Museum Steven F. Udvar – Hazy Center at Dullest International Airport.
The next orbiter delivered was Columbia in March 1979. Columbia was the first fully functional shuttle, and it was launched for the first time on April 12, 1979. STS-1 mission had only two crew members and lasted around two days. The objectives of the mission were, test all space shuttle components and verify the safety of launch and return of the orbiter. The Challenger, originally built and used for structural test, was reused and converted in shuttle. It was delivered in July 1982 and launched for the first time on April 4, 1983. The Discovery was delivered on November 1983 and launched on August 30, 1984. The Atlantis, delivered in April 1985, was launched for the first time in Octuber 3, 1985. The Endeavour, built as a replacement of the Challenger, was the last orbiter manufactured. It was delivered in May 1991 and launched on May 7, 1992.
On January 28, 1986, after 10 succesful flights, the Challenger explode during ascent due to a failure in a O ring on the right solid rocket booster. All the seven crew members died. After the accident, the space shuttle program was suspended for almost three years. During that time, NASA investigated and made all the necessary fixes to avoid future accidents. With the launch of Discovery on Sep 9, 1988, the program was resumed.
On February 1, 2003, almost seventeen years after the Challenger's accident, tragedy hit the program again. This time, the Columbia orbiter exploded during re-entry. The accident was caused by a damage in the orbiter's left wing. Again the program was temporarily suspended until July 2005, when the Discovery was launched.
After Columbia disaster, NASA announced that Space Shuttle program would end on 2010 with the retirement of the orbiters and replacement of the space shuttle by a new type of vehicle.
The Discovery was launched for the last time on February 24, 2011 completing 38 flights and 27 years of service. On its last mission, the Discovery crew delivered the Permanent Multipurpose Module Leonardo and Robonaut 2. After 12 days, the orbiter returned to earth to its final retirement. NASA announced that the orbiter will be moved to Udvar – Hazy Center, and the Enterprise, which is actually being displayed there, will be relocated at Intrepid Sea Air Space Museum in New York.
The next orbiter to be retired is Endeavour. After 23 succesful flights, its last mission was scheduled for April 27, but, it was suspended due to a heater failure in auxiliary-power-unit. STS-134 mission objectives are the deliver of Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS) and spare parts to the International Space Station (ISS). NASA has announced that Endeavour is planned to be launched not earlier than May 16 . After the Endeavour complete its mission, it will be moved to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex near Cape Canaveral.
The Atlantis last mission has been scheduled for July 8, 2011. Some of the objectives are delivering the Raffaello Multipurpose Logistics Module and spare parts to the International Space Station. After the Atlantis return to earth, it will be moved to California Science Center in Los Angeles, California.
On October 2010, the new spacecraft program was suspended due to budget problems. After the retirement of all orbiters, astronauts will travel to and from International Space Station aboard Soyuz Spacecraft until a new vehicle is ready.
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