![]() Challenger exploded in the air shortly after take-off in 1986, while Columbia was lost as the shuttle was returning from a space mission in 2003. The program’s many triumphs were not without tragedy, as 14 astronauts were killed in two separate accidents. The program's five shuttles have made 21,152 Earth orbits, spending more than three-and-a-half years in space between them.Īmong the many giant leaps for mankind in the program’s 542,398,878 miles traveled are the development of the Spacelab reusable laboratory, establishment of the Chandra X-ray Observatory satellite (launched during a Columbia mission in 1999), the first American female in space (Sally Ride, who flew aboard Challenger in 1983), and the oldest person in space (John Glenn, who climbed aboard Discovery at the age of 77 in 1998). The space is now used by other aerospace firms. In total, 135 missions took off, with the average cost behind each mission totalling about $775million, according to NASA. NASA rented part of the facility to a film production studio after the space shuttle program ended in 2011, but that agreement ended in 2016. ![]() NASA's shuttle program, officially dubbed Space Transportation System (STS), began with the launch of Columbia on April 12, 1981. Stunning: Enterprise, which was the original prototype for the space shuttle program, flies above the Statue of Liberty on its approach to Manhattan HD wallpapers and background images Tons of awesome aesthetic Nasa. The space shuttle Atlantis will not take to the skies and instead will remain in Florida at the Kennedy Space Center where it will also become a museum. Follow the vibe and change your wallpaper every day nasa logo space pics gallery. The wonderful spectacle was part of the space agency's process of wrapping up the shuttle program and took place ten days after Space Shuttle Discovery soared over the Washington Monument, White House and the Capitol before landing at Dulles International Airport in Virginia. Fourteen astronauts were killed.ĭuring 25 missions, Endeavour spent 299 days in space and orbited Earth nearly 4,700 times, racking up 123 million miles.īack in April, tens of thousands of spectators lined the banks of the Hudson River to witness the one-time test shuttle Enterprise flying at low-attitude above some of Manhattan's most iconic landmarks, including the Statue of Liberty, the Empire State Building and One World Trade Center. NASA lost another shuttle, Columbia, in 2003 when it disintegrated during re-entry. The youngest shuttle, Endeavour replaced Challenger, which blew up during liftoff in 1986. The end: Endeavour cruises over the Hollywood sign as it nears the end of its final journey
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