space shuttle

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The Space Shuttle was a partially reusable spacecraft operated by NASA from 1981 until 2011.

The main part of the Space Shuttle was the orbiter: the reusable spaceplane that actually transported crew and cargo into space. Launched vertically with the aid of a rocket, the orbiter would subsequently land like a conventional airplane upon return. Six orbiters (five operational) were built between 1974 and 1991, and would fly a total of 135 missions over a 30 year period, during which it played a crucial role in the construction of the International Space Station.

After their retirement, all but two (Challenger & Columbia) of the orbiters were preserved and are currently on display at museums.

Examples

Liftoff
Landing

Orbiters

  • Enterprise prototype, not spaceworthy
  • Columbia (lost, 2003)
  • Challenger (lost, 1986)
  • Discovery
  • Atlantis
  • Endeavour

See also

External links

This tag implicates spacecraft (learn more).

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