Space shuttle missions
The origins of NASA's space shuttle program date to the late '60s, with its first successful test flights in1981. Only two more shuttle flights remain before the program ends and the era of NASA's manned space flights comes to a close for the foreseeable future.
In commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the first shuttle launch, let's take a close-up look at each ship in the fleet and the highlights of their missions.
Space shuttle Columbia
It's hard to believe, but it's the 30th anniversary of the launch of the space shuttle Columbia (
photos). First launched on April 12, 1981 it flew 28 missions and spent nearly 301 days in space. It was the first of the NASA orbiter fleet, and was lost over Texas in 2003, along with its crew.
Space shuttle Challenger Challenger soared to great triumph and great tragedy. First launched on April 4, 1983, it flew 10 missions and spent just over 62 days in space. The first woman in space (
photos) as well as the first African-American astronaut (
photos) flew on Challenger.The Challenger was lost on January 28, 1986.
Space shuttle Discovery First launched on August 30, 1984, Discovery has flown 39 missions and spent 365-and-a-half days in space. Discovery delivered the Hubble Telescope into space (
see Hubble photos) and has docked at the Mir space station.
Space shuttle Atlantis completed 32 missions, spending nearly 294 days in space. The shuttle has docked seven times at the Mir space station delivering important supplies. It also deployed the Gamma Ray Observatory and Galileo probe.
Space shuttle EndeavourFirst launched May 7, 1992, Endeavour has completed 24 missions and spent just over 280 days in space. The shuttle was named through a national school competition, and it was the first to complete a mission to the Hubble Telescope. Endeavour will be decommissioned this year.
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