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{{Short description|1972–2011 United States human spaceflight program}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox space program
| image           = [[File:Shuttle Patch.svg|frameless|upright]]
| alt             = An image of the Space Shuttle stack imposed on a triangular patch; the words "Space Shuttle" are printed underneath
| country         = United States
| organization    = [[NASA]]
| purpose         = Crewed orbital flight
| status          = Completed
| cost            = {{US$|196 billion|link=yes}} (2011)
| duration        = 1972–2011{{Efn|The program was suspended between 1986 and 1988 and between 2003 and 2005 after catastrophic failures.}}
| firstflight     = {{Start date|1977|08|12}} ([[Approach and Landing Tests|ALT-12]])
| firstcrewed     = {{Start date|1981|04|12}} ([[STS-1]])
| lastflight      = {{Start date|2011|07|21}} ([[STS-135]])
| successes       = 133
| failures        = 2 ([[STS-51-L]], [[STS-107]]) <!----- NASA refers to STS-107 as "catastrophic failure" not partial failure [history.nasa.gov/columbia/Introduction.html] ----->
| partialfailures = 1 ([[STS-83]]) <!----- STS-83 is a "partial failure" as a fuel cell failure shortened the mission and unable to complete all objectives ----->
| launchsite      = {{Unbulleted list
   | [[Kennedy Space Center|Kennedy]], [[LC-39A]]
   | Kennedy, [[LC-39B]]
   }}
| crewvehicle     = [[Space Shuttle orbiter]]
| launcher        = [[Space Shuttle]]
}}
{{United States space program sidebar}}

The '''Space Shuttle program''' was the fourth [[human spaceflight]] program carried out by the U.S. [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] (NASA), which accomplished routine transportation for Earth-to-orbit crew and cargo from 1981 to 2011. Its official program name was [[Space Transportation System]] (STS), taken from a 1969 plan for a system of reusable spacecraft where it was the only item funded for development, as a proposed nuclear shuttle in the plan was cancelled in 1972.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Portree |first1=David S. F. |title=The Last Days of the Nuclear Shuttle (1971) |url=https://www.wired.com/2012/09/nuclear-flight-system-definition-studies-1971/ |website=Wired.com |access-date=August 1, 2024}}</ref><ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/taskgrp.html|title=Space Task Group Report, 1969|first=Roger D.|last=Launius|publisher=NASA|date=1969|access-date=July 31, 2024|archive-date=January 14, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160114031850/http://www.hq.nasa.gov/office/pao/History/taskgrp.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It flew 135 missions and carried 355 astronauts from 16 countries, many on multiple trips. 

The [[Space Shuttle]], composed of an [[Space Shuttle orbiter|orbiter]] launched with two reusable [[Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster|solid rocket boosters]] and a disposable [[external fuel tank]], carried up to eight [[astronaut]]s and up to {{Convert|50000|lb|kg|abbr=on}} of [[payload]] into [[low Earth orbit]] (LEO). When its mission was complete, the orbiter would [[atmospheric reentry|reenter]] the Earth's atmosphere and land like a [[glider (aircraft)|glider]] at either the [[Kennedy Space Center]] or [[Edwards Air Force Base]].

The Shuttle is the only winged crewed spacecraft to have achieved orbit and landing, and the first reusable crewed space vehicle that made multiple flights into orbit.{{Efn|The Soviet shuttle [[Buran (spacecraft)|Buran]] was very similar and was designed to have the same capabilities but made only one uncrewed spaceflight before it was cancelled.}} [[List of Space Shuttle missions|Its missions]] involved carrying large payloads to various orbits including the [[International Space Station]] (ISS), providing crew rotation for the space station, and performing service missions on the [[Hubble Space Telescope]]. The orbiter also recovered [[satellite]]s and other payloads (e.g., from the ISS) from orbit and returned them to Earth, though its use in this capacity was rare. Each vehicle was designed with a projected lifespan of 100 launches, or 10 years' operational life. Original selling points on the shuttles were over 150 launches over a 15-year operational span with a 'launch per month' expected at the peak of the program, but extensive delays in the development of the International Space Station<ref name="iss-casis.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.iss-casis.org/About/ISSTimeline.aspx|title=International Space Station Historical Timeline|publisher=Center for Advancement of Science in Space|access-date=November 27, 2022}}</ref> never created such a peak demand for frequent flights.

==Background==
Various shuttle concepts had been explored since the late 1960s. The program formally commenced in 1972, becoming the sole focus of NASA's [[human spaceflight]] operations after the [[Apollo program|Apollo]], [[Skylab]], and [[Apollo–Soyuz]] programs in 1975. The Shuttle was originally conceived of and presented to the public in 1972 as a 'Space Truck' which would, among other things, be used to build a United States space station in [[low Earth orbit]] during the 1980s and then be replaced by a new vehicle by the early 1990s. The stalled plans for a U.S. space station evolved into the [[International Space Station]] and were formally initiated in 1983 by President [[Ronald Reagan]], but the ISS suffered from long delays, design changes and cost over-runs<ref name="iss-casis.org"/> and forced the service life of the Space Shuttle to be extended several times until 2011 when it was finally retired—serving twice as long as it was originally designed to do. In 2004, according to President [[George W. Bush]]'s [[Vision for Space Exploration]], use of the Space Shuttle was to be focused almost exclusively on completing assembly of the ISS, which was far behind schedule at that point.

The first experimental orbiter, [[Space Shuttle Enterprise|''Enterprise'']], was a high-altitude glider, launched from the back of a specially modified Boeing 747, only for [[Approach and Landing Tests|initial atmospheric landing tests (ALT)]]. ''Enterprise'''s first test flight was on February 18, 1977, only five years after the Shuttle program was formally initiated; leading to the launch of the first space-worthy shuttle ''[[Space Shuttle Columbia|Columbia]]'' on April 12, 1981, on [[STS-1]]. The Space Shuttle program finished with its last mission, [[STS-135]] flown by [[Space Shuttle Atlantis|''Atlantis'']], in July 2011, retiring the final Shuttle in the fleet. The Space Shuttle program formally ended on August 31, 2011.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n1108/29shannon/ |title=Breaking News &#124; Shannon to review options for deep space exploration |publisher=Spaceflight Now |date=August 29, 2011 |access-date=May 17, 2012}}</ref>

==Conception and development==
{{excerpt|Space Shuttle design process}}

==Program history==
{{see also|Space Shuttle|List of Space Shuttle missions|Timeline of Space Shuttle missions}}
[[File:President Nixon and James Fletcher Discuss the Space Shuttle - GPN-2002-000109.jpg|thumb|right|President [[Richard Nixon]] (right) with [[NASA Administrator]] [[James&nbsp;C. Fletcher|James Fletcher]] in January 1972, three months before Congress approved funding for the Shuttle program]]
[[File:Space Shuttle Approach and Landing Tests crews.jpg|thumb|Shuttle approach and landing test crews, 1976]]
All Space Shuttle missions were launched from the [[Kennedy Space Center]] (KSC) in Florida. Some civilian and military circumpolar space shuttle missions were planned for [[Vandenberg Air Force Base#Space Shuttle|Vandenberg AFB]] in California. However, the use of Vandenberg AFB for space shuttle missions was canceled after the [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|''Challenger'' disaster]] in 1986. The [[Space shuttle launch commit criteria|weather criteria used for launch]] included, but were not limited to: precipitation, temperatures, cloud cover, lightning forecast, wind, and humidity.<ref name="weather launch criteria">{{cite web|url=http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/release/1999/39-99.htm|title=Space Shuttle Weather Launch Commit Criteria and KSC End of Mission Weather Landing Criteria|work=KSC Release No. 39-99|publisher=NASA Kennedy Space Center|access-date=July 6, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626180630/http://www-pao.ksc.nasa.gov/kscpao/release/1999/39-99.htm|archive-date=June 26, 2009}}</ref> The Shuttle was not launched under conditions where it could have been struck by [[lightning]].

The first fully functional orbiter was ''[[Space Shuttle Columbia|Columbia]]'' (designated OV-102), built in [[Palmdale, California]]. It was delivered to [[Kennedy Space Center]] (KSC) on March 25, 1979, and was first launched on April 12, 1981—the 20th anniversary of [[Yuri Gagarin]]'s [[Vostok 1|space flight]]—with a crew of two.

''[[Space Shuttle Challenger|Challenger]]'' (OV-099) was delivered to KSC in July 1982, ''[[Space Shuttle Discovery|Discovery]]'' (OV-103) in November 1983, ''[[Space Shuttle Atlantis|Atlantis]]'' (OV-104) in April 1985 and ''[[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Endeavour]]'' (OV-105) in May 1991. ''Challenger'' was originally built and used as a Structural Test Article (STA-099), but was converted to a complete orbiter when this was found to be less expensive than converting ''Enterprise'' from its Approach and Landing Test configuration into a spaceworthy vehicle.

On April 24, 1990, ''Discovery'' carried the [[Hubble Space Telescope]] into space during [[STS-31]].

In the course of 135 missions flown, two orbiters (''Columbia'' and ''Challenger'') suffered catastrophic accidents, with the loss of all crew members, totaling 14 astronauts.

The accidents led to national level inquiries, detailed analysis of why the accidents occurred, and significant pauses where changes were made before the Shuttles returned to flight.<ref name="space.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/2282-columbias-white-external-fuel-tanks.html|title=Columbia's White External Fuel Tanks|website=[[Space.com]]|date=April 12, 2006}}</ref> After the ''Challenger'' disaster in January 1986, there was a delay of 32 months before the next Shuttle launch.<ref name="history.nasa.gov">{{cite web|url=https://history.nasa.gov/SP-4219/Chapter15.html|title=Return to Flight...Challenger Accident|first=John A.|last=Logsdon}}</ref> A similar delay of 29 months occurred after the [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|''Columbia'' disaster]] in February 2003.<ref name="space.com"/>

The longest Shuttle mission was [[STS-80]] lasting 17 days, 15 hours. The final flight of the Space Shuttle program was [[STS-135]] on July 8, 2011.

Since the Shuttle's retirement in 2011, many of its original duties are performed by an assortment of government and private vessels. The European ATV [[Automated Transfer Vehicle]] supplied the ISS between 2008 and 2015. Classified military missions are being flown by the US Air Force's uncrewed [[spaceplane]], the [[X-37B]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Secretive US space plane X-37B lands after record 908 days in orbit|url=https://www.newscientist.com/article/2346762-secretive-us-space-plane-x-37b-lands-after-record-908-days-in-orbit/|date=November 14, 2022|publisher=New Scientist|access-date=November 27, 2022}}</ref> By 2012, cargo to the International Space Station was already being delivered commercially under NASA's [[Commercial Resupply Services]] by SpaceX's partially reusable [[Dragon spacecraft]], followed by Orbital Sciences' [[Cygnus spacecraft]] in late 2013. Crew service to the ISS is currently provided by the Russian [[Soyuz (spacecraft)|Soyuz]] and, since 2020, the [[SpaceX Dragon 2]] crew capsule, launched on the company's reusable [[Falcon 9]] rocket as part of NASA's [[Commercial Crew Development|Commercial Crew Development program]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/commercialcrew/2019/02/06/ |title=NASA, Partners Update Commercial Crew Launch Dates |work=NASA Commercial Crew Program Blog |date=February 6, 2019 }}</ref> [[Boeing Defense, Space & Security|Boeing]]'s [[Boeing Starliner|Starliner]] capsule is scheduled to start ISS crew service from 2025. For missions beyond [[low Earth orbit]], NASA is building the [[Space Launch System]] and the [[Orion spacecraft]], part of the [[Artemis program]].

<gallery widths="150">
Spacelab Arrival Ceremony at Kennedy Space Center - GPN-2002-000088.jpg|NASA Administrator address the crowd at the Spacelab arrival ceremony in February 1982. On the podium with him is then-Vice President George Bush, the director general of European Space Agency (ESA), Eric Quistgaard, and director of Kennedy Space Center Richard G. Smith
Ronald and Nancy Reagan NASA 1982.jpg|"President Ronald Reagan chats with NASA astronauts [[Henry Hartsfield]] and [[Ken Mattingly]] on the runway as first lady Nancy Reagan inspects the nose of Space Shuttle ''Columbia'' following its Independence Day landing at Edwards Air Force Base on July 4, 1982."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/dryden/Features/STS-4_30th_anniversary.html|title=Independence Day at NASA Dryden – 30 Years Ago|first=NASA|last=Administrator|work=NASA |date=March 6, 2016}}</ref>
STS-3 landing.jpg|STS-3 lands in March 1982
</gallery>

==Accomplishments==
[[File:1989 s34 Galileo Deploy 5.jpg|thumb|upright|''Galileo'' floating free in space after release from Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'', 1989]]
[[File:Endeavour docked to ISS.jpg|thumb|upright|Space Shuttle ''Endeavour'' docked with the [[International Space Station]] (ISS), 2011]]

Space Shuttle missions have included:

*[[Spacelab]] missions<ref name=NASA28>{{cite web|url=https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/1999/msad15mar99_1/|title=Spacelab joined diverse scientists and disciplines on 28 Shuttle missions|publisher=NASA|date=March 15, 1999|access-date=February 11, 2011}}</ref> Including:
**Science<ref name=NASA28/>
**Astronomy<ref name=NASA28/>
**Crystal growth<ref name=NASA28/>
**Space physics<ref name=NASA28/>
*Construction of the [[International Space Station]] (ISS)
*Crew rotation and servicing of [[Mir]] and the [[International Space Station]] (ISS)
*Servicing missions, such as to repair the [[Hubble Space Telescope]] (HST) and orbiting satellites
*Human experiments in [[low Earth orbit]] (LEO)
*Carried to low Earth orbit (LEO):
**The [[Hubble Space Telescope]] (HST)
**Components of the [[International Space Station]] (ISS)
**Supplies in [[Spacehab|Spacehab modules]] or [[Multi-Purpose Logistics Module]]s
**The [[Long Duration Exposure Facility]]
**The [[Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite]]
**The [[Compton Gamma Ray Observatory]]
**The [[Earth Radiation Budget Satellite]]
**The [[Mir Docking Module|Mir Shuttle Docking Node]]
*Carried satellites with a booster, such as the [[Payload Assist Module]] (PAM-D) or the [[Inertial Upper Stage]] (IUS), to the point where the booster sends the satellite to:
**A higher Earth [[orbit]]; these have included:
***[[Chandra X-ray Observatory]]
***The first six [[TDRS]] satellites
***Two DSCS-III (Defense Satellite Communications System) communications satellites in one mission
***A [[Defense Support Program]] satellite
**An interplanetary mission; these have included:
***[[Magellan probe|''Magellan'']]
***[[Galileo (spacecraft)|''Galileo'']]
***[[Ulysses probe|''Ulysses'']]

<gallery widths="150">
STS-73 landing.jpg|U.S. Shuttle ''Columbia'' landing at the end of [[STS-73]], 1995
Spacelab 2 mission.jpg|Space art for the [[Spacelab 2]] mission, showing some of the various experiments in the payload bay. Spacelab was a major European contribution to the Space Shuttle program
STS-61-A compartment trainer.jpg|European astronauts prepare for their Spacelab mission, 1984.
Astro2 sts67 big.jpg|SpaceLab hardware included a pressurized lab, but also other equipment allowing the Orbiter to serve as a crewed space observatory (''Astro-2'' mission, 1995, shown)
Upgrading Hubble during SM1.jpg|Astronauts [[Thomas D. Akers]] and [[Kathryn C. Thornton]] install corrective optics on the Hubble Space Telescope during [[STS-61]].
</gallery>

==Budget==
[[File:Atlantis taking off on STS-27.jpg|thumb|Space Shuttle ''Atlantis'' takes flight on the STS-27 mission on December 2, 1988. The Shuttle took about 8.5 minutes to accelerate to a speed of over 27,000 km/h (17000 mph) and achieve orbit.]]
[[File:950318 STS67 Endeavour landing.jpg|thumb|right|A drag chute is deployed by ''[[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Endeavour]]'' as it completes a mission of almost 17 days in space on Runway 22 at [[Edwards Air Force Base]] in southern California. Landing occurred at 1:46&nbsp;pm (EST), March 18, 1995.]]

Early during development of the Space Shuttle, NASA had estimated that the program would cost $7.45&nbsp;billion ($43&nbsp;billion in 2011 dollars, adjusting for inflation) in development/non-recurring costs, and $9.3M ($54M in 2011 dollars) per flight.<ref>{{cite book|title=Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists|date=February 1973|page=39}}</ref> Early estimates for the cost to deliver payload to low-Earth orbit were as low as $118 per pound ($260/kg) of payload ($635/lb or $1,400/kg in 2011 dollars), based on marginal or incremental launch costs, and assuming a 65,000 pound (30&nbsp;000&nbsp;kg) payload capacity and 50 launches per year.<ref>NASA (2003) [http://caib.nasa.gov/events/public_hearings/20030423/transcript_am.html Columbia Accident Investigation Board Public Hearing Transcript] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060812151208/http://caib.nasa.gov/events/public_hearings/20030423/transcript_am.html |date=August 12, 2006 }}</ref><ref name="costbenefit">{{cite web|url=http://archive.gao.gov/f0302/096542.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://archive.gao.gov/f0302/096542.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Report to the Congress: Cost-Benefit Analylsis Used in Support of the Space Shuttle Program|access-date=November 25, 2008|publisher=United States General Accounting Office|year=1972|author=Comptroller General}}</ref> A more realistic projection of 12 flights per year for the 15-year service life combined with the initial development costs would have resulted in a total cost projection for the program of roughly $54&nbsp;billion (in 2011 dollars).

The total cost of the actual 30-year service life of the Shuttle program through 2011, adjusted for inflation, was $196&nbsp;billion.<ref name="Space shuttle program costs">{{cite news|last=Borenstein|first=Seth|title=Space shuttle's legacy: Soaring in orbit and costs|url=https://phys.org/news/2011-07-space-shuttle-legacy-soaring-orbit.html|access-date=September 30, 2021|newspaper=Phys.org|date=July 5, 2011|agency=Associated Press}}</ref> In 2010, the incremental cost per flight of the Space Shuttle was $409 million, or {{convert|14,186|$/kg|$/lb|abbr=off}} to [[low Earth orbit]] (LEO). In contrast, the comparable [[Proton (rocket)|Proton]] launch vehicle cost was $141 million, or  {{convert|6721|$/kg|$/lb|abbr=off}} to LEO and the [[ Soyuz 2.1]] was $55 million, or {{convert|6665|$/kg|$/lb|abbr=off}}, despite these launch vehicles not being reusable.<ref name="Launch_Cost_Analy">{{cite journal |last1=Xu|last2=Hollingsworth|last3=Smith|first1=Qin|first2=Peter|first3=Katharine |title=Launch Cost Analysis and Optimization Based on Analysis of Space System Characteristics |journal=Transactions of the Japan Society for Aeronautical and Space Sciences |date=July 2019 |volume=62 |issue=4 |pages=177–178 |doi=10.2322/tjsass.62.175 |url=https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/tjsass/62/4/62_T-17-57/_pdf/-char/ja |access-date=January 13, 2024|doi-access=free }}</ref>

[[NASA Budget|NASA's budget]] for 2005 allocated 30%, or $5&nbsp;billion, to space shuttle operations;<ref name="nasa_2005_budget">{{cite news |url=http://www.space.com/news/shuttle_cost_050211.html |title=Total Tally of Shuttle Fleet Costs Exceed Initial Estimates |publisher=[[Space.com]] |first=Leonard |last=David |date=February 11, 2005 |access-date =August 6, 2006}}</ref> this was decreased in 2006 to a request of $4.3&nbsp;billion.<ref name="nasa_2006_budget">{{cite news |url=http://www.space.com/news/nasa_budget_050207.html |title=NASA 2006 Budget Presented: Hubble, Nuclear Initiative Suffer |last=Berger |first=Brian |date=February 7, 2006 |publisher=[[Space.com]] |access-date =August 6, 2006}}</ref> Non-launch costs account for a significant part of the program budget: for example, during fiscal years 2004 to 2006, NASA spent around $13 billion on the Space Shuttle program,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/news/budget/index.html|title=NASA Budget Information|date=January 27, 2015}}</ref> even though the fleet was grounded in the aftermath of the ''Columbia'' disaster and there were a total of three launches during this period of time. In fiscal year 2009, NASA budget allocated $2.98&nbsp;billion for 5 launches to the program, including $490&nbsp;million for "program integration", $1.03&nbsp;billion for "flight and ground operations", and $1.46&nbsp;billion for "flight hardware" (which includes maintenance of orbiters, engines, and the external tank between flights.)

Per-launch costs can be measured by dividing the total cost over the life of the program (including buildings, facilities, training, salaries, etc.) by the number of launches. With 135 missions, and the total cost of US$192&nbsp;billion (in 2010 dollars), this gives approximately $1.5&nbsp;billion per launch over the life of the Shuttle program.<ref name="pielke">{{cite journal |title=Shuttle programme lifetime cost |date=April 7, 2011 |last=Pielke |first=Roger Jr. |author2=Radford Byerly |bibcode=2011Natur.472...38P |journal=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]] |volume=472 |issue=7341 |doi=10.1038/472038d |pages=38 |pmid=21475182| doi-access=free }}</ref> A 2017 study found that carrying one kilogram of cargo to the ISS on the Shuttle cost $272,000 in 2017 dollars, twice the cost of Cygnus and three times that of Dragon.<ref name="foust20171120">{{Cite web |url=http://www.thespacereview.com/article/3372/1 |title=Review: The Space Shuttle Program: Technologies and Accomplishments |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=November 20, 2017 |website=The Space Review}}</ref>

NASA used a [[management philosophy]] known as success-oriented management during the Space Shuttle program which historian Alex Roland described in the aftermath of the ''Columbia'' disaster as "hoping for the best".<ref name="roland">{{cite web |title=Roland Statement |url=https://history.nasa.gov/columbia/Troxell/Columbia%20Web%20Site/Documents/Congress/Senate/FEBRUA~1/roland_statement.html |publisher=NASA |access-date=June 18, 2018}}</ref> Success-oriented management has since been studied by several analysts in the area.<ref name="som1">{{cite book |last1=Weinrich |first1=Heinz |title=Management: A Global, Innovative, and Entrepreneurial Perspective |date=2013 |page=126}}</ref><ref name="som2">{{cite book |last1=Klikauer |first1=Thomas |title=Management Education: Fragments of an Emancipatory Theory |date=2016 |page=220}}</ref><ref name="som3">{{cite book |last1=Keuper |first1=Franz |title=Finance Bundling and Finance Transformation: Shared Services Next Level |date=2013 |page=i}}</ref>

==Accidents==
In the course of 135 missions flown, two orbiters were destroyed, with loss of crew totalling 14 astronauts:
* ''[[Space Shuttle Challenger|Challenger]]'' – lost 73 seconds after liftoff, [[STS-51-L]], January 28, 1986
* ''[[Space Shuttle Columbia|Columbia]]'' – lost approximately 16 minutes before its expected landing, [[STS-107]], February 1, 2003

There was also one [[Space Shuttle abort modes|abort-to-orbit]] and some fatal accidents on the ground during launch preparations.

===STS-51-L (''Challenger'', 1986)===
{{main|Space Shuttle Challenger disaster}}
[[File:Challenger explosion.jpg|thumb|right|In 1986, ''Challenger'' disintegrated one minute and 13 seconds after liftoff.]]
Close-up video footage of ''Challenger'' during its final launch on January 28, 1986, clearly shows that the problems began due to an [[Space Shuttle Challenger disaster|O-ring failure]] on the right solid rocket booster (SRB). The hot plume of gas leaking from the failed joint caused the collapse of the external tank, which then resulted in the orbiter's disintegration due to high aerodynamic stress. The accident resulted in the loss of all seven astronauts on board. ''[[Space Shuttle Endeavour|Endeavour]]'' (OV-105) was built to replace ''Challenger'' (using structural spare parts originally intended for the other orbiters) and delivered in May 1991; it was first launched a year later.

After the loss of ''Challenger'', NASA grounded the Space Shuttle program for over two years, making numerous safety changes recommended by the [[Rogers Commission Report]], which included a redesign of the SRB joint that failed in the ''Challenger'' accident. Other safety changes included a new escape system for use when the orbiter was in controlled flight, improved landing gear tires and brakes, and the reintroduction of pressure suits for Shuttle astronauts (these had been discontinued after [[STS-4]]; astronauts wore only coveralls and oxygen helmets from that point on until the ''Challenger'' accident). The Shuttle program continued in September 1988 with the launch of ''Discovery'' on [[STS-26]].

The accidents did not just affect the technical design of the orbiter, but also NASA.<ref name="history.nasa.gov"/>
Quoting some recommendations made by the post-''Challenger'' Rogers commission:<ref name="history.nasa.gov"/>
{{Blockquote|<poem>
'''Recommendation I''' – The faulty Solid Rocket Motor joint and seal must be changed. This could be a new design eliminating the joint or a redesign of the current joint and seal. ... the Administrator of NASA should request the National Research Council to form an independent Solid Rocket Motor design oversight committee to implement the Commission's design recommendations and oversee the design effort.
'''Recommendation II''' – The Shuttle Program Structure should be reviewed. ... NASA should encourage the transition of qualified astronauts into agency management Positions.
'''Recommendation III''' – NASA and the primary shuttle contractors should review all Criticality 1, 1R, 2, and 2R items and hazard analyses.
'''Recommendation IV''' – NASA should establish an Office of Safety, Reliability and Quality Assurance to be headed by an Associate Administrator, reporting directly to the NASA Administrator.
'''Recommendation VI''' – NASA must take actions to improve landing safety. The tire, brake and nosewheel system must be improved.
'''Recommendation VII''' – Make all efforts to provide a crew escape system for use during controlled gliding flight.
'''Recommendation VIII''' – The nation's reliance on the shuttle as its principal space launch capability created a relentless pressure on NASA to increase the flight rate ... NASA must establish a flight rate that is consistent with its resources.
</poem>}}

=== STS-107 (''Columbia'', 2003) ===
{{main|Space Shuttle Columbia disaster}}
[[File:STS-107, final moments in cabin (Space Shuttle Columbia disaster).webm|thumb|Video of ''Columbia''{{'}}s final moments, filmed by the crew.]]
[[File:Thermal protection system inspections from ISS - Shuttle nose.jpg|thumb|right|Space Shuttle ''Discovery'' as it approaches the International Space
Station during [[STS-114]] on July 28, 2005. This was the Shuttle's "return to flight" mission after the ''Columbia'' disaster]]
The Shuttle program operated accident-free for seventeen years and 88 missions after the ''Challenger'' disaster, until [[Space Shuttle Columbia disaster|''Columbia'' broke up on reentry]], killing all seven crew members, on February 1, 2003. The [[ultimate cause]] of the accident was a piece of foam separating from the external tank moments after liftoff and striking the leading edge of the orbiter's left wing, puncturing one of the reinforced carbon-carbon (RCC) panels that covered the wing edge and protected it during reentry. As ''Columbia'' reentered the atmosphere at the end of an otherwise normal mission, hot gas penetrated the wing and destroyed it from the inside out, causing the orbiter to lose control and disintegrate.

After the ''Columbia'' disaster, the International Space Station operated on a skeleton crew of two for more than two years and was serviced primarily by Russian spacecraft. While the "Return to Flight" mission [[STS-114]] in 2005 was successful, a similar piece of foam from a different portion of the tank was shed. Although the debris did not strike ''Discovery'', the program was grounded once again for this reason.

The second "Return to Flight" mission, [[STS-121]] launched on July 4, 2006, at 14:37 (EDT). Two previous launches were scrubbed because of lingering thunderstorms and high winds around the launch pad, and the launch took place despite objections from its chief engineer and safety head. A five-inch (13&nbsp;cm) crack in the foam insulation of the external tank gave cause for concern; however, the Mission Management Team gave the go for launch.<ref>{{Cite web|title=NASA wants shuttle to fly despite safety misgivings|url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2006/jun/26/20060626-110227-5543r/|access-date=February 8, 2023|publisher=The Washington Times |last=Chien |first=Philip |date=June 26, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326030503/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2006/jun/26/20060626-110227-5543r/ |archive-date=March 26, 2023 |url-status=live }}</ref> This mission increased the ISS crew to three. ''Discovery'' touched down successfully on July 17, 2006, at 09:14 (EDT) on Runway 15 at [[Kennedy Space Center]].

Following the success of [[STS-121]], all subsequent missions were completed without major foam problems, and the construction of the ISS was completed (during the [[STS-118]] mission in August 2007, the orbiter was again struck by a foam fragment on liftoff, but this damage was minimal compared to the damage sustained by ''Columbia'').

The ''Columbia'' Accident Investigation Board, in its report, noted the reduced risk to the crew when a Shuttle flew to the International Space Station (ISS), as the station could be used as a safe haven for the crew awaiting rescue in the event that damage to the orbiter on ascent made it unsafe for reentry. The board recommended that for the remaining flights, the Shuttle always orbit with the station. Prior to STS-114, NASA Administrator Sean O'Keefe declared that all future flights of the Space Shuttle would go to the ISS, precluding the possibility of executing the final [[Hubble Space Telescope]] servicing mission which had been scheduled before the ''Columbia'' accident, despite the fact that millions of dollars' worth of upgrade equipment for Hubble were ready and waiting in NASA warehouses. Many dissenters, including astronauts {{who|date=September 2013}}, asked NASA management to reconsider allowing the mission, but initially the director stood firm. On October 31, 2006, [[NASA]] announced approval of the launch of ''Atlantis'' for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, scheduled for August 28, 2008. However SM4/[[STS-125]] eventually launched in May 2009.

One impact of ''Columbia'' was that future crewed launch vehicles, namely the [[Ares I]], had a special emphasis on crew safety compared to other considerations.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.space.com/7126-dumping-nasa-ares-rocket-cost-billions.html|title=Dumping NASA's New Ares I Rocket Would Cost Billions|website=[[Space.com]]|date=August 12, 2009 |last1=Halvorson |first1=Todd |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221209000024/https://www.space.com/7126-dumping-nasa-ares-rocket-cost-billions.html |archive-date=December 9, 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Retirement==
{{excerpt|Space Shuttle|Retirement}}

==Preservation==
[[File:Space Shuttle Discovery @ Udvar Hazy.png|thumb|left|Space Shuttle ''Discovery'' at the Udvar Hazy museum]]
Out of the five fully functional shuttle orbiters built, three remain. ''Enterprise'', which was used for atmospheric test flights but not for orbital flight, had many parts taken out for use on the other orbiters. It was later visually restored and was on display at the [[National Air and Space Museum]]'s [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]] until April 19, 2012. ''Enterprise'' was moved to New York City in April 2012 to be displayed at the [[Intrepid Museum|''Intrepid'' Museum]], whose Space Shuttle Pavilion opened on July 19, 2012. ''Discovery'' replaced ''Enterprise'' at the [[National Air and Space Museum]]'s [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]]. ''Atlantis'' formed part of the Space Shuttle Exhibit at the [[Kennedy Space Center]] visitor complex and has been on display there since June 29, 2013, following its refurbishment.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.yahoo.com/space-shuttle-atlantis-exhibit-opens-support-souvenirs-180805853.html|title=Space Shuttle Atlantis Exhibit Opens with Support from Souvenirs|date=June 29, 2013 }}</ref>

On October 14, 2012, ''Endeavour'' completed an unprecedented {{convert|12|mi|km|abbr=on}} drive on city streets from [[Los Angeles International Airport]] to the [[California Science Center]], where it has been on display in a temporary hangar since late 2012. The transport from the airport took two days and required major street closures, the removal of over 400 city trees, and extensive work to raise power lines, level the street, and temporarily remove street signs, lamp posts, and other obstacles. Hundreds of volunteers, and fire and police personnel, helped with the transport. Large crowds of spectators waited on the streets to see the shuttle as it passed through the city. ''Endeavour'', along with the last flight-qualified external tank (ET-94), is currently on display at the Science Center's [[Samuel Oschin]] Pavilion (in a horizontal orientation) until the completion of the ''Samuel Oschin Air and Space Center'' (a planned addition to the California Science Center). Once moved, it will be permanently displayed in launch configuration, complete with genuine solid rocket boosters and external tank.<ref name="casc">{{cite web |title=Space Shuttle Endeavour homepage |url=https://californiasciencecenter.org/exhibits/endeavour-experience/space-shuttle-endeavour|access-date=November 27, 2022|publisher=California Science Center}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=California Science Center breaks ground on space shuttle Endeavour's new vertical home|url=https://www.dailynews.com/2022/06/01/space-shuttle-endeavour-to-get-new-la-home-in-mammoth-pavilion-will-stand-tall-for-crowds/|date=June 1, 2022|publisher=Los Angeles Daily News|access-date=November 27, 2022}}</ref>

==Crew modules==
{{External media
|float=right
|image1=[http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/images/the_space_tourist.15.gif Rockwell 74 Passenger Module] <br />© Rockwell<small>{{mdash}} host </small>}}
[[File:Spacehab S107e05359.jpg|thumb|Spacehab module during STS-107]]
[[File:Crewmembers_of_STS-71,_Mir-18_and_Mir-19_Pose_for_Inflight_Picture_-_GPN-2002-000061_rotated.jpg|thumb|Ten people inside Spacelab Module in the Shuttle bay in June 1995, celebrating the docking of the Space Shuttle and Mir.]]
One area of Space Shuttle applications is an expanded crew.<ref name=orbiter>{{cite web|url=http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/basics/orbiter/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20000831011229/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/shuttle/reference/basics/orbiter/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 31, 2000|title=Human Space Flight (HSF) – Space Shuttle}}</ref> Crews of up to eight have been flown in the Orbiter, but it could have held at least a crew of ten.<ref name=orbiter/> Various proposals for filling the payload bay with additional passengers were also made as early as 1979.<ref name=reichert>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/the_future_of_space_tourism.shtml|title=Space Future – The Future of Space Tourism|first=Peter Wainwright|last=(www.spacefuture.com)}}</ref> One proposal by [[Rockwell International|Rockwell]] provided seating for 74 passengers in the Orbiter payload bay, with support for three days in Earth orbit.<ref name=reichert/> With a smaller 64 seat orbiter, costs for the late 1980s would be around US$1.5&nbsp;million per seat per launch.<ref name=david>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/the_space_tourist.shtml|title=Space Future – The Space Tourist|first=Peter Wainwright|last=(www.spacefuture.com)}}</ref> The Rockwell passenger module had two decks, four seats across on top and two on the bottom, including a 25-inch (63.5&nbsp;cm) wide aisle and extra storage space.<ref name=david/>

Another design was Space Habitation Design Associates 1983 proposal for 72 passengers in the Space Shuttle Payload bay.<ref name=david/> Passengers were located in 6 sections, each with windows and its own loading ramp at launch, and with seats in different configurations for launch and landing.<ref name=david/> Another proposal was based on the Spacelab habitation modules, which provided 32 seats in the payload bay in addition to those in the cockpit area.<ref name=david/>

There were some efforts to analyze commercial operation of STS.<ref>{{cite web|title=Commercial Orbital Transportation Services|url=https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/SP-2014-617.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140606215941/http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/files/SP-2014-617.pdf |archive-date=June 6, 2014 |url-status=live|date=February 2014|access-date=November 20, 2022|publisher=NASA}}</ref> Using the NASA figure for average cost to launch a Space Shuttle as of 2011 at about $450&nbsp;million per mission,<ref name="missionbudget">{{cite web |author=NASA |year=2011 |title=How much does it cost to launch a Space Shuttle? |url=http://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/information/shuttle_faq.html#10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205113150/https://www.nasa.gov/centers/kennedy/about/information/shuttle_faq.html#10 |archive-date=December 5, 2022 |access-date=June 28, 2011 |publisher=NASA}}</ref> a cost per seat for a 74<ref name=rockwell74>{{cite web|title=Rockwell 74 Passenger Module|url=http://www.spacefuture.com/archive/images/the_space_tourist.15.gif|access-date=November 20, 2022}}</ref> seat module envisioned by Rockwell came to less than $6&nbsp;million, not including the regular crew. Some passenger modules used hardware similar to existing equipment, such as the tunnel,<ref name=rockwell74/> which was also needed for [[Spacehab]] and Spacelab

{{further|List of Space Shuttle crews}}

==Successors==
During the three decades of operation, various follow-on and replacements for the STS Space Shuttle were partially developed but not finished.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{cite web|url=http://www.space.com/11363-nasa-space-shuttle-replacement-30-years-anniversaries.html|title=Politics played a big role in why NASA doesn't already have a new spacecraft to replace the retiring space shuttles. Funding and technical challenges put a stop to any attempts to build the ' Space Shuttle 2.'|website=[[Space.com]]|date=April 12, 2011}}</ref>

Examples of possible future space vehicles to supplement or supplant STS:<ref name="ReferenceA"/>
*Advanced Crewed Earth-to-Orbit Vehicle
*[[Shuttle II]], Johnson Space Center concept for a follow-on, with 2 boosters and 2 tanks mounted on its wings.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/s/shuttleii.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161228021051/http://astronautix.com/s/shuttleii.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 28, 2016|title = Shuttle II}}</ref>
*National Aero-Space Plane (NASP)
**[[Rockwell X-30]] (not funded)
*[[VentureStar]], SSTO spacelane concept using an aerospike engine.
**[[Lockheed Martin X-33]] (cancelled 2001)
*[[Ares I]] (ended with Constellation cancellation)
*[[Orbital Space Plane Program]]

One effort in the direction of space transportation was the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) program, initiated in 1994 by NASA.<ref name="spinoff.nasa.gov">{{cite web|url=https://spinoff.nasa.gov/spinoff1996/14.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130224062451/http://spinoff.nasa.gov/spinoff1996/14.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 24, 2013|title=Reusable Launch Vehicle}}</ref> This led to work on the X-33 and X-34 vehicles.<ref name="spinoff.nasa.gov"/> NASA spent about US$1&nbsp;billion on developing the X-33 hoping for it be in operation by 2005.<ref name="spinoff.nasa.gov"/> Another program around the turn of the millennium was the [[Space Launch Initiative]], which was a next generation launch initiative.<ref name="nasa.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/centers/marshall/pdf/172379main_ngltfacts.pdf|title=NASA's Space Launch Initiative: The Next Generation Launch Technology Program|date=May 2003|access-date=November 20, 2022|publisher=NASA}}</ref>

The Space Launch Initiative program was started in 2001, and in late 2002 it was evolved into two programs, the [[Orbital Space Plane Program]] and the [[Next Generation Launch Technology]] program.<ref name="nasa.gov"/> OSP was oriented towards provided access to the International Space Station.<ref name="nasa.gov"/>

Other vehicles that would have taken over some of the Shuttles responsibilities were the [[HL-20 Personnel Launch System]] or the [[NASA X-38]] of the [[Crew Return Vehicle]] program, which were primarily for getting people down from ISS. The X-38 was cancelled in 2002,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chron.com/news/nation-world/article/X-38-project-s-cancellation-irks-NASA-partners-2064969.php|title=X-38 project's cancellation irks NASA, partners|date=June 9, 2002}}</ref> and the HL-20 was cancelled in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.aerospaceguide.net/hl_20.html|title=HL-20 – Lifting Body Spaceplane for Personnel Launch System|date=August 4, 2016}}</ref> Several other programs in this existed such as the Station Crew Return Alternative Module (SCRAM) and Assured Crew Return Vehicle (ACRV)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.astronautix.com/n/nasaacrv.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161224031240/http://www.astronautix.com/n/nasaacrv.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 24, 2016|title=NASA ACRV}}</ref>

According to the 2004 Vision for Space Exploration, the next human NASA program was to be [[Constellation program]] with its [[Ares I]] and [[Ares V]] launch vehicles and the [[Orion spacecraft]]; however, the Constellation program was never fully funded, and in early 2010 the Obama administration asked Congress to instead endorse a plan with heavy reliance on the private sector for delivering cargo and crew to LEO.

The [[Commercial Orbital Transportation Services]] (COTS) program began in 2006 with the purpose of creating commercially operated uncrewed cargo vehicles to service the ISS.<ref>{{cite press release |publisher=NASA |date=August 18, 2006 |title=NASA Selects Crew and Cargo Transportation to Orbit Partners |url=http://www.nasa.gov/home/hqnews/2006/aug/HQ_06295_COTS_phase_1.html |access-date=November 21, 2006}}</ref> The first of these vehicles, [[SpaceX Dragon 1]], became operational in 2012, and the second, [[Orbital Sciences]]'s [[Cygnus (spacecraft)|Cygnus]] did so in 2014.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2011/10/iss-partners-welcome-spacex-orbital-busy-2012/|title=ISS partners prepare to welcome SpaceX and Orbital in a busy 2012|last=Bergin|first=Chris|date=October 6, 2011|publisher=NASASpaceFlight.com (Not affiliated with NASA)|access-date=December 13, 2011}}</ref>

The [[Commercial Crew Development]] (CCDev) program was initiated in 2010 with the purpose of creating commercially operated crewed spacecraft capable of delivering at least four crew members to the ISS, staying docked for 180 days and then returning them back to Earth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spacenews.com/venture_space/100201-biggest-ccdev-award-goes-sierra-nevada.html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909235028/http://www.spacenews.com/venture_space/100201-biggest-ccdev-award-goes-sierra-nevada.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 9, 2012|title=Biggest CCDev Award Goes to Sierra Nevada|last=Berger|first=Brian|date=February 1, 2011|publisher=Imaginova Corp.|access-date=December 13, 2011}}</ref> These spacecraft, like [[SpaceX]]'s [[Dragon 2]] and [[Boeing CST-100 Starliner]] were expected to become operational around 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-commercial-crew-program-mission-in-sight-for-2018|title=NASA Commercial Crew Program Mission in Sight for 2018|date=January 4, 2018|publisher=NASA|access-date=April 14, 2018}}</ref> On the [[Crew Dragon Demo-2]] mission, SpaceX's Dragon 2 sent astronauts to the ISS, restoring America's human launch capability. The [[SpaceX Crew-1|first operational SpaceX mission]] launched on November 15, 2020, at 7:27:17&nbsp;p.m. ET, carrying four astronauts to the ISS.

Although the Constellation program was canceled, it has been replaced with a very similar [[Artemis program]]. The [[Orion spacecraft]] has been left virtually unchanged from its previous design. The planned [[Ares V]] rocket has been replaced with the smaller [[Space Launch System]] (SLS), which is planned to launch both Orion and other necessary hardware.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/exploration/systems/sls/sls1.html|title=NASA Announces Design for New Deep Space Exploration System|date=September 14, 2011|publisher=NASA|access-date=April 28, 2012}}</ref> [[Exploration Flight Test-1]] (EFT-1), an uncrewed test flight of the Orion spacecraft, launched on December 5, 2014, on a [[Delta IV Heavy]] rocket.<ref name=schedule>{{cite web|url=http://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2012/02/acronyms-ascent-sls-managers-create-developmental-milestone-roadmap/|title=Acronyms to Ascent – SLS managers create development milestone roadmap|last=Bergin|first=Chris|date=February 23, 2012|publisher=NASA|access-date=April 29, 2012}}</ref>

[[Artemis 1]] is the first flight of the SLS and was launched as a test of the completed Orion and SLS system.<ref>{{cite news|title=SLS launches Artemis 1 mission|first=Jeff |last=Foust|date=November 16, 2022|url=https://spacenews.com/sls-launches-artemis-1-mission/|access-date=November 27, 2022|publisher=[[Space News]]}}</ref> During the mission, an uncrewed Orion capsule spent 10 days in a {{Convert|57000|km|nmi|sp=us|adj=on|abbr=off}} [[distant retrograde orbit]] around the Moon before returning to Earth.<ref name="a1-1">{{cite web|title=Artemis I – Flight Day 10: Orion Enters Distant Retrograde Orbit |first=Sandra |last=Jones|date=November 25, 2022|url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/2022/11/25/flight-day-10-orion-enters-distant-retrograde-orbit/|publisher=NASA|access-date=November 27, 2022}}</ref> [[Artemis 2]], the first crewed mission of the program, will launch four astronauts in 2024<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.oversight.gov/sites/default/files/oig-reports/IG-20-018.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.oversight.gov/sites/default/files/oig-reports/IG-20-018.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |title=Report No. IG-20-018: NASA's Management of the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle Program |work=[[OIG]] |publisher=[[NASA]] |date=July 16, 2020 |access-date=December 28, 2020}}</ref> on a [[free-return trajectory|free-return]] flyby of the Moon at a distance of {{Convert|8520|km|nmi|sp=us|abbr=off}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-s-first-flight-with-crew-important-step-on-long-term-return-to-the-moon-missions-to|title=First Flight With Crew Important Step on Long-Term Return to Moon|last=Hambleton|first=Kathryn|date=August 27, 2018|website=NASA|access-date=November 27, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nasa.gov/feature/nasa-s-first-flight-with-crew-important-step-on-long-term-return-to-the-moon-missions-to|title=NASA's First Flight With Crew Important Step on Long-term Return to the Moon, Missions to Mars|last=Hambleton|first=Kathryn|date=May 23, 2019|website=NASA|access-date=July 10, 2019}}</ref> After Artemis 2, the Power and Propulsion Element of the [[Lunar Gateway]] and three components of an expendable lunar lander are planned to be delivered on multiple launches from commercial [[launch service provider]]s.<ref name="a3-1">{{cite news|url=https://www.space.com/nasa-moon-missions-before-2024.html|title=NASA Has a Full Plate of Lunar Missions Before Astronauts Can Return to Moon|first=Hanneke |last=Weitering |date=May 23, 2019|publisher=Space.com|access-date=November 27, 2022|quote=And before NASA sends astronauts to the moon in 2024, the agency will first have to launch five aspects of the lunar Gateway, all of which will be commercial vehicles that launch separately and join each other in lunar orbit. First, a power and propulsion element will launch in 2022. Then, the crew module will launch (without a crew) in 2023. In 2024, during the months leading up to the crewed landing, NASA will launch the last critical components: a transfer vehicle that will ferry landers from the Gateway to a lower lunar orbit, a descent module that will bring the astronauts to the lunar surface, and an ascent module that will bring them back up to the transfer vehicle, which will then return them to the Gateway.}}</ref> [[Artemis 3]] is planned to launch in 2025 aboard a SLS Block 1 rocket and will use the minimalist Gateway and expendable lander to achieve the first crewed lunar landing of the program. The flight is planned to touch down on the [[lunar south pole]] region, with two astronauts staying there for about one week.<ref name="a3-1" /><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/17/18627839/nasa-administrator-jim-bridenstine-artemis-moon-program-budget-amendment|title=NASA administrator on new Moon plan: 'We're doing this in a way that's never been done before'|last=Grush|first=Loren|date=May 17, 2019|publisher=The Verge|access-date=November 27, 2022|quote=Now, for Artemis 3 that carries our crew to the Gateway, we need to have the crew have access to a lander. So, that means that at Gateway we're going to have the Power and Propulsion Element, which will be launched commercially, the Utilization Module, which will be launched commercially, and then we'll have a lander there.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theverge.com/2019/5/17/18627839/nasa-administrator-jim-bridenstine-artemis-moon-program-budget-amendment|title=NASA administrator on new Moon plan: 'We're doing this in a way that's never been done before'|last=Grush|first=Loren|date=May 17, 2019|publisher=The Verge|access-date=November 27, 2022|quote=The direction that we have right now is that the next man and the first woman will be Americans, and that we will land on the south pole of the Moon in 2024.}}</ref><ref name="a3-2">{{Cite web|last=Chang|first=Kenneth|title=For Artemis Mission to Moon, NASA Seeks to Add Billions to Budget| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/13/science/trump-nasa-moon-mars.html| website=[[The New York Times]]| access-date=May 25, 2019| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190525034839/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/13/science/trump-nasa-moon-mars.html |archive-date=May 25, 2019 |date=May 25, 2019| quote=Under the NASA plan, a mission to land on the moon would take place during the third launch of the Space Launch System. Astronauts, including the first woman to walk on the moon, Mr. Bridenstine said, would first stop at the orbiting lunar outpost. They would then take a lander to the surface near its south pole, where frozen water exists within the craters.| url-status=live|url-access=limited}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://spacenews.com/nasa-outlines-plans-for-lunar-lander-development-through-commercial-partnerships/|title=NASA outlines plans for lunar lander development through commercial partnerships|date=July 21, 2019}}</ref>

For many Artemis missions, the Space Launch System's two solid rocket boosters' engines and casings and four main engines and the Orion spacecraft's main engine will all be previously flown [[RS-25|Space Shuttle main engines]], [[Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster|solid rocket boosters]], and [[Orbital Maneuvering System]] engines. They are refurbished legacy engines from the Space Shuttle program, some of which even date back to the early 1980s. For example, Artemis I had components that flew on 83 of the 135 Space Shuttle missions. From Artemis I to Artemis IV recycled Shuttle main engines will be used before manufacturing new engines. From Artemis I to Artemis III recycled Shuttle solid rocket boosters' engines and steel casings will be used before manufacturing new ones. From Artemis I to Artemis VI the Orion main engine will use six previously flown Space Shuttle OMS engines.<ref>http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-082422a-artemis-i-space-shuttle-hardware.html . Retrieved 15 March 2025.</ref><ref>https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/orion/fired-up-engines-and-motors-put-artemis-mission-in-motion/ . Retrieved 15 March 2025.</ref><ref>https://www.nasa.gov/reference/sls-space-launch-system-solid-rocket-booster/ . Retrieved 15 March 2025.</ref>

=== Gallery ===
<gallery widths="150">
Twin Linear Aerospike XRS-2200 Engine PLW edit.jpg|Linear aerospike engine for the cancelled X-33
COTS2Dragon.2..jpg|The Dragon spacecraft, one of the Space Shuttle's several successors, is seen here on its way to deliver cargo to the ISS
Orion Spacecraft ArtemisI DEC2019 PBS.jpg|NASA's Orion Spacecraft for the Artemis 1 mission seen in Plum Brook On December 1, 2019
SLS CS1 JAN1 2020-1.jpg|The Core Stage for the Space Launch System rocket for Artemis I
Spacelaunchsystem-enginesection-jan2020.jpg|The Space Launch System Core Stage rolling out of the Michoud Facility for shipping to Stennis
Boeing's Starliner crew ship approaches the space station (iss067e066735) (cropped).jpg|The Boeing CST-100 Starliner spacecraft in the process of docking to the International Space Station
Crew Dragon at the ISS for Demo Mission 1 (cropped).jpg|The SpaceX Crew Dragon in the process of docking to the International Space Station 
</gallery>

==Assets and transition plan==
[[File:STS-135 30 mins after touchdown2.png|250px|thumb|''Atlantis'' about 30 minutes after final touchdown]]
The Space Shuttle program occupied over 654 facilities, used over 1.2&nbsp;million line items of equipment, and employed over 5,000 people. The total value of equipment was over $12&nbsp;billion. Shuttle-related facilities represented over a quarter of NASA's inventory. There were over 1,200 active suppliers to the program throughout the United States. NASA's transition plan had the program operating through 2010 with a transition and retirement phase lasting through 2015. During this time, the [[Ares I]] and [[Orion (Constellation program)|Orion]] as well as the Altair Lunar Lander were to be under development,<ref name="NTMP">{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/202388main_Transition_Mgmt_Plan-Final.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/202388main_Transition_Mgmt_Plan-Final.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=NASA Transition Management Plan|last=Olson|first=John|author2=Joel Kearns |date=August 2008|work=JICB-001|publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration}}</ref> although these programs have since been canceled.

In the 2010s, two major programs for human spaceflight are [[Commercial Crew Program]] and the [[Artemis program]]. [[Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A]] is, for example, used to launch [[Falcon Heavy]] and [[Falcon 9]].

==Criticism==
{{Main|Criticism of the Space Shuttle program}}
{{excerpt|Space Shuttle|Criticism}}

==Support vehicles==

Many other vehicles were used in support of the Space Shuttle program, mainly terrestrial transportation vehicles.

* The [[crawler-transporter]] carried the [[mobile launcher platform]] and the Space Shuttle from the [[Vehicle Assembly Building]] (VAB) to [[Launch Complex&nbsp;39]], originally built for Project Apollo.
* The [[Shuttle Carrier Aircraft]] (SCA) were two modified [[Boeing 747]]s. Either could fly an orbiter from alternative landing sites back to the [[Kennedy Space Center]].<ref name="jenkins2016">{{cite book |last= Jenkins |first= Dennis R. |title= Space Shuttle: Developing an Icon − 1972–2013|isbn=978-1-58007-249-6 |publisher= Specialty Press |date= 2016}}</ref>{{rp|I–377, 382}} These aircraft were retired to the [[Joe Davies Heritage Airpark]] at the [[Armstrong Flight Research Center]] and [[Space Center Houston]].
* A 36-wheeled transport trailer, the Orbiter Transfer System, originally built for the [[U.S. Air Force]]'s launch facility at [[Vandenberg Air Force Base]] in California (since then converted for [[Delta&nbsp;IV rocket]]s) would transport the orbiter from the landing facility to the launch pad, which allowed both "stacking" and launch without utilizing a separate VAB-style building and crawler-transporter roadway. Prior to the closing of the Vandenberg facility, orbiters were transported from the [[Orbiter Processing Facility|OPF]] to the VAB on their undercarriages, only to be raised when the orbiter was being lifted for attachment to the SRB/ET stack. The trailer allowed the transportation of the orbiter from the OPF to either the SCA [[Mate-Demate Device|"Mate-Demate"]] stand or the VAB without placing any additional stress on the undercarriage.
* The [[Crew Transport Vehicle]] (CTV), a modified airport [[Mobile lounge|jet bridge]], was used to assist astronauts to egress from the orbiter after landing. Upon entering the CTV, astronauts could take off their launch and reentry suits then proceed to chairs and beds for medical checks before being transported back to the crew quarters in the [[Operations and Checkout Building]]. Originally built for Project Apollo.
* The [[Astronaut transfer van|Astrovan]] was used to transport astronauts from the crew quarters in the Operations and Checkout Building to the launch pad on launch day. It was also used to transport astronauts back again from the Crew Transport Vehicle at the [[Shuttle Landing Facility]].
* The three locomotives serving the [[NASA Railroad]], used to transport segments of the [[Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster]]s, were determined to be no longer needed for day-to-day operation at the Kennedy Space Center. In April 2015, locomotive No. 1 was sent to [[Natchitoches Parish Port]] and No. 3 sent to the [[Madison Railroad]]. Locomotive No. 2 was sent to the [[Gold Coast Railroad Museum]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite news|title=NASA Railroad rides into sunset|url=https://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2015/05/23/nasa-railroad-rides-sunset/27784213/|work=Florida Today|date=May 23, 2015|access-date=November 27, 2022|first=James|last=Dean}}</ref>

<gallery widths="150">
Crawler-Transporter.jpg|Crawler-transporter No.2 ("Franz") in a December 2004 road test after track shoe replacement
Shuttle mate demate facility.jpg|''Atlantis'' being prepared to be mated to the [[Shuttle Carrier Aircraft]] using the [[Mate-Demate Device]] following [[STS-44]].
Freedom Star with SRB.JPG|[[MV Freedom Star|MV ''Freedom Star'']] was a [[NASA recovery ship]] for the [[Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster]]s
</gallery>


==See also==
{{Col begin}}
{{Col-3}}
* {{Annotated link|Human spaceflight}}
* [[List of human spaceflights]]
* [[List of Space Shuttle missions]]
* [[List of spaceflight-related accidents and incidents]]
* {{Annotated link|Space exploration}}
* {{Annotated link|Space Shuttle abort modes}}
* [[List of Space Shuttle crews]]
; Simulation
* {{Annotated link|Shuttle (video game)|''Shuttle''}}
* {{Annotated link|Orbiter (simulator)|''Orbiter Space Flight Simulator''}}
* {{Annotated link|Space Shuttle Mission 2007|''Space Shuttle Mission 2007''}}
{{Col-3}}
;Physics
* {{Annotated link|Atmospheric entry}}
* {{Annotated link|Lifting body}}
;Other spaceflight programs
* {{Annotated link|Apollo program}}
* {{Annotated link|Artemis program}}
* {{Annotated link|Buran programme}}
* {{Annotated link|Constellation program}}
{{Col-3}}
;Similar vehicles
{{Portal|Spaceflight}}
* {{Annotated link|Avatar (spacecraft)|Avatar}}
* {{Annotated link|Buran (spacecraft)|Buran}}
* {{Annotated link|Chrysler SERV}}
* {{Annotated link|Hermes (spacecraft)|Hermes}}
* {{Annotated link|HOPE-X}}
* {{Annotated link|Hopper (spacecraft)|Hopper}}
* {{Annotated link|Kliper}}
* {{Annotated link|Martin Marietta Spacemaster}}
* {{Annotated link|Reusable launch system}}
* {{Annotated link|Single-stage-to-orbit}}
* {{Annotated link|Shuttle-derived vehicle}}
* {{Annotated link|Skylon (spacecraft)|Skylon}}
* {{Annotated link|VentureStar}}
* [[Dream Chaser]] – Commercial space glider for flying either cargo or a crew to the [[ISS]]
{{Col-end}}

==References==
'''Footnotes'''
{{notelist}}

'''Citations'''
{{Reflist|40em}}
*{{Include-NASA}}

==Further reading==
* [http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/technology/sts-newsref/stsref-toc.html Shuttle Reference manual]
* [http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/orbiters.html Orbiter Vehicles] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210209023806/http://science.ksc.nasa.gov/shuttle/resources/orbiters/orbiters.html |date=February 9, 2021 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20031224182455/http://www.house.gov/science/hot/columbia/rs21411.pdf Shuttle Program Funding 1992 – 2002]
* [https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19810022734_1981022734.pdf NASA Space Shuttle News Reference – 1981 (PDF document)]
* R. A. Pielke, [http://sciencepolicy.colorado.edu/admin/publication_files/resource-100-1993.01.pdf "Space Shuttle Value open to Interpretation"], ''Aviation Week'', issue 26. July 1993, p.&nbsp;57 (.pdf)

==External links==
{{Commons category|Space Shuttle program}}
* [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html Official NASA Mission Site]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070312234619/http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/spaceshuttle/ NASA Johnson Space Center Space Shuttle Site]
* [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/shuttlemissions/list_main.html Official Space Shuttle Mission Archives]
* [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/multimedia/index.html NASA Space Shuttle Multimedia Gallery & Archives]
** [https://web.archive.org/web/19991012124805/http://spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/shuttle/index.html Shuttle audio, video, and images] – searchable archives from STS-67 (1995) to present
** [https://web.archive.org/web/20070410212501/http://mediaarchive.ksc.nasa.gov/search.cfm?cat=71 Kennedy Space Center Media Gallery] – searchable video/audio/photo gallery
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070310231445/http://digital.library.unt.edu/govdocs/crs/search.tkl?q=space+shuttle&search_crit=title&search=Search&date1=Anytime&date2=Anytime&type=form Congressional Research Service (CRS) Reports regarding the Space Shuttle]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071214095856/http://www.spaceflighthistory.com/shuttleprogram.htm U.S. Space Flight History: Space Shuttle Program]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060912175301/http://chandra.harvard.edu/launch/status/weather_criteria2.html Weather criteria for Shuttle launch]
*[http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/structure/iss_manifest.html Consolidated Launch Manifest: Space Shuttle Flights and ISS Assembly Sequence]
*[http://www.faqs.org/faqs/space/controversy/ USENET posting – Unofficial Space FAQ by Jon Leech]

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