Space Shuttle

Space Shuttle is a retired orbital spacecraft system that was used by NASA for human spaceflight missions. The system was designed and manufactured by Rockwell International to function as a reusable spacecraft, which is a significant departure from the single-use capsules that were used in earlier missions. The Space Shuttle was launched vertically and could land back on Earth horizontally, a feature that was unique among spacecraft at the time.

Design and Development

The Space Shuttle's design features a orbiter vehicle, a pair of recoverable solid rocket boosters, and the expendable external tank. The orbiter vehicle, which carries the crew and payload, is the heart of the Space Shuttle system. It is about the size of a DC-9 airliner and is equipped with three main engines that use liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen from the external tank to provide thrust.

The development of the Space Shuttle began in the late 1960s as a part of the Space Transportation System program. The goal was to create a reusable spacecraft that could carry large payloads to orbit and return them safely to Earth. The first Space Shuttle, Enterprise (OV-101), was unveiled in 1976 and was used for a series of approach and landing tests.

Missions

The Space Shuttle was used in a total of 135 missions from 1981 to 2011, with the first operational flight, STS-1, launched on April 12, 1981. The missions included deploying satellites, conducting science experiments in orbit, and servicing the International Space Station. The Space Shuttle also carried out missions of repair and maintenance, most notably on the Hubble Space Telescope.

Legacy

The Space Shuttle program has left a significant legacy in the field of human spaceflight. It has contributed to numerous scientific discoveries and technological advancements. However, the program also faced criticism and tragedy, with two fatal accidents (Challenger disaster in 1986 and Columbia disaster in 2003) that resulted in the death of 14 astronauts.

The Space Shuttle Columbia launching

See also

• Space exploration
• Spacecraft propulsion
• List of Space Shuttle missions
• Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
• Space Shuttle Columbia disaster

References

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