Space Shuttle Program

Space Transportation System

The Space Shuttle was the only element of the 1969 Space Transportation System (STS) program to be developed. The winged orbiter, first launched in 1981, launched with an external tank assisted by two Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB) and would return to earth on an unpowered re-entry glide. Five operational orbiters were built flying 135 times. Two orbiters would fail with 14 casualties.

It was used on a large variety of missions launching satellites, observatories, probes and space station modules. It launched Hubble, Galileo, Magellan, Compton and Chandra. It docked to the Mir space station, and flew Spacehab and Spacelab in its cargo bay. Ultimately the Space Shuttle would be used as the main workhorse for the launch of the components, and the construction of the International Space Station (ISS).

For the crew, the Advanced Crew Escape Suit (ACES), Extravehicular Mobility Unit (EMU) and Manned Mobility Unit (MMU) were developed. The Canadarm assisted astronauts in the manipulation of large structures, and the launch of Shuttle free flyers; satellites released into orbit and retreived on the same or a later mission.