Space Shuttle

First flown in 1981, the Space Shuttle has been the backbone of American manned spaceflight for nearly three decades.

Space Shuttle Enterprise

Space Shuttle Enterprise was on display at the National Air and Space Museum's Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center when these photos were taken. The Enterprise is currently on display at the Intrepid Sea, Air and Space Museum. (Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

Enterprise at Udvar Hazey

Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME)

The Space Shuttle Main Engine (SSME) was developed at the Marshall Space Flight Center near Huntsville, Alabama. The SSME uses liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen as propellents. The Space Shuttle uses three SSME.

Photos of an SSME on display at the Launch Complex 39 Observation Gantry, Kennedy Space Center

(Photos: Kevin Reynolds, 2000)

SSME on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

SSME Powerhead on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

SSME engine on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB)

The Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters are the largest solid propellant motors used for space flight. Each SRB measures 45.5 meters in length and 3.6 meters in diameter.

Solid Rocket Booster set on display at the KSC visitor center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2009)

Solid Rocket Booster set on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2006)

Space Shuttle External Tank (ET)

The Space Shuttle External Tank supplies liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen for the space shuttle main engines.

External Tank on display at the KSC visitor center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2009)

External Tank on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center

(Photos: Richard Kruse, 2006)

Centaur G-Prime Upper Stage

Centaur G-Prime Upper Stage on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center. Developed from the Centaur upper stage, the G-Prime version was to be used with the American Space Shuttle. The Centaur G-Prime program was cancelled after the Challenger disaster in 1986. (Photos: Richard Kruse, 2008)

Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU)

Using pressurized nitrogen as a propellant, the Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) allowed astronauts to perform un-tethered spacewalks away from the shuttle. The MMU assisted with satellite retrieval and servicing during several early shuttle flights. Use of MMUs was discontinued after the Challenger disaster.

Manned Maneuvering Unit at Huntsville

Manned Maneuvering Unit on display at the United States Space and Rocket Center in Alabama. (Photos: Richard Kruse, 2007)

Manned Maneuvering Unit at Udvar Hazy

Manned Maneuvering Unit on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center. (Photos: Richard Kruse, 2009)

Spacelab

Developed by ESA, for use with the American space shuttle, the Spacelab program consisted of a modular system for conducting research in low Earth orbit.

Spacelab Pressurized Laboratory Module

Spacelab Pressurized Module on display at the Udvar Hazy Center. (Photos: Richard Kruse, 2009)

Spacelab Subsystems Igloo

Spacelab Subsystems Igloo on display at the Udvar Hazy Center. (Photos: Richard Kruse, 2009)

Spacelab Transfer Tunnel

Spacelab Transfer Tunnel on display at the Udvar Hazy Center. (Photos: Richard Kruse, 2009)

Cronological list of Space Shuttle Missions

Brief information about completed space shuttle missions.

Mission	Shuttle	Launch Date	Landing Date	Days	Crew	Main Payload	Notes
STS 1	Columbia	12APR1981	14APR1981	2		DFI, ACIP	First Shuttle Flight.
STS 2	Columbia	12NOV1981	14NOV1981	2		OFT	First re-flight of an orbiter.
STS 3	Columbia	22MAR1982	30MAR1982	8		OSS-1, DFI ACIP	First landing at White Sands, NM.
STS 4	Columbia	27JUN1982	4JUL1982	7		DoD 82-1 G-001	First Get Away Special flight.
STS 5	Columbia	11NOV1982	16NOV1982	5		ANIK-C3 SitS- C	Deployed two commercial satellites.
STS-6	Challenger	4APR1983	9APR1983	5		TDRS-A	Deployment of TDRS-A (TDRS-1).
STS-7	Challenger	18JUN1983	24JUN1983	6		ANIK-C2 PALAPA-B1	Deployed two commercial satellites.
STS-8	Challenger	30AUG1983	5SEP1983	6		INSAT-1B	Deployed INSAT-1B satellite.
STS-9	Columbia	28NOV1983	8DEC1983	10		Spacelab	Spacelab-1.
STS-41-B	Challenger	3FEB1984	11FEB1984	8		WESTAR-VI PALAPA-B2	First flight of manned maneuvering unit.
STS-41-C	Challenger	6APR1984	13APR1984	7		LDEF	Deployed LDEF satellite. Repaired Solar Max satellite.
STS-41-D	Discovery	30AUG1984	5DEP1984	4		SBS-D SYNCOM IV-2 TELSTAR.	Three satellites deployed. Deployed OAST-1 solar wing.
STS-41-G	Challenger	5OCT1984	13OCT1984	8		OSTA-3 ERBS	Deployed two satellites. Conducted Orbital Refueling experiment.
STS-51-A	Discovery	8NOV1984	16NOV1984	8		ANIK-D2 LEASAT-1	Deployed two satellites. Retrieved PALAPA-B2 and WESTAR-VI.
STS-51-C	Discovery	24JAN1985	27JAN1985	3		DoD 85-1	DoD mission.
STS-51-D	Discovery	12APR1985	19APR1985	7		LEASAT-3 ANIK-E2	Deployed two satellites.
STS-51-B	Challenger	29APR1985	6MAY1985	7		Spacelab-3	Spacelab-3.
STS-51-G	Discovery	17JUN1985	24JUN1985	7		MORELOS-A ARABSAT-1B TELSTAR-3D	Deployed three satellites.
STS-51-F	Challenger	29JUL1985	6AUG1985	8		Spacelab-2	Spacelab-2.
STS-51-I	Discovery	27AUG1985	3SEP1985	7		ASC-1 AUSSAT-1 LEASAT-4	Deployed three satellites. Repaired and redeployed LEASAT-3.
STS-51-J	Atlantis	3OCT1985	7OCT1985	4			DoD Mission.
STS-61-A	Challenger	30OCT1985	6NOV1985	7		Spacelab-D1	German Spacelab mission. Eight person crew.
STS-61-B	Atlantis	26NOV1985	3DEC1985	7		MORELOS-B SATCOM-KU2 AUSSAT-2	Deployed three satellites.
STS-61-C	Columbia	12JAN1986	18JAN1986	6		SATCOM-KU1 CHAMP	Deployed SATCOM-KU1 satellite.
STS-51-L	Challenger	28JAN1986	---	0		TDRS-A	Explosion 73 seconds after liftoff. Loss of vehicle and crew.
STS-26	Discovery	29SEP1988	3OCT1988	4		TDRS-C	Deployment of TDRS-C (TDRS-3).
STS-27	Atlantis	2DEC1988	6DEC1988	4		LACROSSE-1	Classified DoD mission.
STS-29	Discovery	13MAR1989	18MAR1989	5		TDRS-D	Deployment of TDRS-D (TDRS-4).
STS-30	Atlantis	4MAY1989	8MAY1989	4		Magellan / IUS	Launch of Venus Radar Mapper.
STS-28	Columbia	8AUG1989	13AUG1989	5		SDS-B1	Classified DoD mission.
STS-34	Atlantis	18OCT1989	23OCT1989	5		Galileo / IUS	Launch of Jupiter Orbiter.
STS-33	Discovery	22NOV1989	27NOV1989	5		ORION-2	Classified DoD mission.
STS-32	Columbia	9JAN1990	20JAN1990	11		SYNCOM IV-F5	LDEF Retrieval.
STS-36	Atlantis	28FEB1990	4MAR1990	4			Classified DoD mission.
STS-31	Discovery	24APR1990	29APR1990	5		HST	Hubble Space Telescope deployment.
STS-41	Discovery	6OCT1990	10OCT1990	4		Ulysses	Launch of Solar Probe.
STS-38	Atlantis	15NOV1990	20NOV1990	5		SDS-B2	Classified DoD mission.
STS-35	Columbia	2DEC1990	10DEC1990	9		ASTRO-1	Astronomical observations.
STS-37	Atlantis	5APR1991	11APR1991	6		GRO	Deployment of the Compton Gamma Ray Observatory.
STS-39	Discovery	28APR1991	6MAY1991	8			DoD Mission.
STS-40	Columbia	5JUN1991	14JUN1991	9		Spacelab SLS-1	Spacelab Live Sciences-1.
STS-43	Atlantis	2AUG1991	11AUG1991	9		TDRS-E	Deployment of TDRS-E (TDRS-5).
STS-48	Discovery	12SEP1991	18SEP1991	5		UARS	Deployed UARS.
STS-44	Atlantis	24NOV1991	1DEC1991	7		DSP	Deployment of DSP satellite.
STS-42	Discovery	22JAN1992	30JAN1992	8		Spacelab IML-1	International Microgravity Laboratory.
STS-45	Atlantis	24MAR1992	2APR1992	9		Spacelab	ATLAS-1
STS-49	Endeavour	7MAY1992	7MAY1992	9			Repair of Intelsat VI.
STS-50	Columbia	25JUN1992	9JUL1992	14		Spacelab USML-1	U.S. Microgravity Laboratory.
STS-46	Atlantis	31JUL1992	8AUG1992	8		EURECA, TSS-1	European Retrievable Carrier and Teathered Satellite System.
STS-47	Endeavour	12SEP1992	20SEP1992	8		Spacelab SL-J	Spacelab-J
STS-52	Columbia	22OCT1992	1NOV1992	10		LAGEOS-II USMP-1	U.S. Microgravity Payload.
STS-53	Discovery	2DEC1992	9DEC1992	7		SDS-B3	DoD Mission.
STS-54	Endeavour	13JAN1993	19JAN1993	6		TDRS-F	Deployment of TDRS-F (TDRS-6).
STS-56	Discovery	8APR1993	17APR1993	9		SPARTAN-201 ATLAS-2	Atmospheric Laboratory for Applications and Science
STS-55	Columbia	26APR1993	6MAY1993	10		Spacelab D-2	Spacelab D-2.
STS-57	Endeavour	21JUN1993	1JUL1993	10		SPACEHAB, EURECA	Materials and life sciences.
STS-51	Discovery	12SEP1993	22SEP1993	10		ACTS	Advanced Communications Technology Satellite was deployed.
STS-58	Columbia	18OCT1993	1NOV1993	14		Spacelab SLS-2	Spacelab Life Sciences mission.
STS-61	Endeavour	2DEC1993	13DEC1993	11		IMAX Camera	HST Servicing Mission 1.
STS-60	Discovery	3FEB1994	11FEB1994	7		Spacehab, WSF	Experiments conducted in Spacehab.
STS-62	Columbia	4MAR1994	18MAR1994	14		Spacelab USMP-2	U.S. Microgravity Payload-2.
STS-59	Endeavour	9APR1994	20APR1994	11		SRL-1	Shuttle Radar Laboratory-1
STS-65	Columbia	8JUL1994	23JUL1994	15		Spacelab IML-2	International Microgravity Payload.
STS-64	Discovery	9SEP1994	20SEP1994	11		LITE, ROMPS SPARTAN-201
STS-68	Endeavour	30SEP1994	11OCT1994	11		SRL-2	Space Radar Laboratory-2
STS-66	Atlantis	3NOV1994	14NOV1994	11		ATLAS-3	Atmospheric Studies
STS-63	Discovery	3FEB1995	11FEB1995	8			Rendezvous with Mir Space Station.
STS-67	Endeavour	2MAR1995	18MAR1995	17		Spacelab	ASTRO-2
STS-71	Atlantis	27JUN1995	7JUL1995	10			Docked with Mir Space Station.
STS-70	Discovery	13JUL1995	22JUL1995	9		TDRS-G	Deployment of TDRS-G (TDRS-7).
STS-69	Endeavour	7SEP1995	18DEP1995	11		Spartan 201 WSF-2	Deployed and retrieved two payloads.
STS-73	Columbia	20OCT1995	5NOV1995	16		Spacelab USML-2	Microgravity research.
STS-74	Atlantis	12NOV1995	20NOV1995	8		MIR/ODS Docking Module	Docked with Mir Space Station.
STS-72	Endeavour	11JAN1996	20JAN1996	9		OAST-FLYER	Retrieve Space Flyer Unit (SFU)
STS-75	Columbia	22FEB1996	9MAR1996	16		Spacelab USMP-3 TSS-1R	Tethered Satellite System (Teather broke)
STS-76	Atlantis	22MAR1996	31MAR1996	9		MIR/ODS Spacelab-SM	Docked with Mir Space Station.
STS-77	Endeavour	19MAY1996	29MAY1996	10		SPACEHAB-04 SPARTAN-207	Microgravity research aboard SPACEHAB.
STS-78	Columbia	20JUN1996	7JUL1996	17		Spacelab LMS-1	Life and microgravity sciences.
STS-79	Atlantis	16SEP1996	26DEP1996	10		MIR/ODS Spacelab-DM	Docked with Mir Space Station.
STS-80	Columbia	19NOV1996	7DEC1996	18		ORFEUS-SPAS WSF-3
STS-81	Atlantis	12JAN1997	22JAN1997	10		MIR/ODS Spacelab-DM	Docked with Mir Space Station.
STS-82	Discovery	11FEB1997	21FEB1997	10			HST Servicing Mission 2.
STS-83	Columbia	4APR1997	8APR1997	4		Spacelab MSL-1	Mission ended early due to fuel cell problem.
STS-84	Atlantis	15MAY1997	24MAY1997	9		MIR/ODS Spacelab-DM	Docked with Mir Space Station.
STS-94	Columbia	1JUL1997	17JUL1997	16		Spacelab MSL-1R	MSL-1 reflight.
STS-85	Discovery	7AUG1997	19AUG1997	12		CRISTA-SPAS MFD	Manipulator Flight Demonstration for NASDA.
STS-86	Atlantis	25SEP1997	6OCT1997	11		MIR/ODS Spacelab-DM	Docked with Mir Space Station.
STS-87	Columbia	19NOV1997	5DEC1997	16		USMP-4 SPARTAN-201	United States Microgravity Payload
STS-89	Endeavour	22JAN1998	31JAN1998	9		MIR/ODS Spacelab-DM	Docked with Mir Space Station.
STS-90	Columbia	17APR1998	3MAY1998	16		Spacelab	Neurolab.
STS-91	Discovery	2JUN1998	12JUN1998	10		MIR/ODS Spacelab-DM	Docked with Mir Space Station.
STS-95	Discovery	29OCT1998	7NOV1998	9		SPACEHAB-SM Spartan-201 HOST	Tested components for the Hubble Space Telescope.
STS-88	Endeavour	4DEC1998	15DEC1998	12		Unity Node	ISS Assembly Mission 2A
STS-96	Discovery	27MAY1999	6JUN1999	10		ISS Supplies	ISS Assembly Mission 2A.1
STS-93	Columbia	23JUL1999	27JUL1999	5		Chandra	Deployment of the Chandra X-ray observatory.
STS-103	Discovery	19DEC1999	27DEC1999	8			HST Servicing Mission 3A.
STS-99	Endeavour	11FEB2000	22FEB2000	11		SRTM EarthKAM	Shuttle Radar Topography Mission
STS-101	Atlantis	19MAY2000	29MAY2000	10		ISS Supplies	ISS Assembly Mission 2A.2a
STS-106	Atlantis	8SEP2000	20DEP2000	12		ISS Supplies	ISS Assembly Mission 2A.2b
STS-92	Discovery	11OCT2000	24OCT2000	13		Z1 Truss	ISS Assembly Mission 3A
STS-97	Endeavour	30NOV2000	11DEC2000	11		P6 Truss	ISS Assembly Mission 4A
STS-98	Atlantis	7FEB2001	20FEB2001	13		Destiny Lab	ISS Assembly Mission 5A
STS-102	Discovery	8MAR2001	21MAR2001	13		MPLM	ISS Assembly Mission 5A.1
STS-100	Endeavour	19APR2001	1MAY2001	12		MPLM	ISS Assembly Mission 6A
STS-104	Atlantis	12JUL2001	24JUL2001	13		Airlock	ISS Assembly Mission 7A
STS-105	Discovery	10AUG2001	22AUG2001	12		ISS Supplies	ISS Assembly Mission 7A.1
STS-108	Endeavour	5DEC2001	17DEC2001	12		MPLM	ISS Assembly Mission UF-1
STS-109	Columbia	1MAR2002	12MAR2002	11			HST Servicing Mission 3B.
STS-110	Atlantis	8APR2002	19APR2002	11		S0 Truss	ISS Assembly Mission 8A
STS-111	Endeavour	5JUN2002	19JUN2002	14		MPLM	ISS Assembly Mission UF-2
STS-112	Atlantis	7OCT2002	18OCT2002	11		S1 Truss	ISS Assembly Mission 9A
STS-113	Endeavour	23NOV2002	7DEC2002	14		P1 Truss	ISS Assembly Mission 11A
STS-107	Columbia	16JAN2003	1FEB2003	16		SpaceHab-DM	Columbia was destroyed during re-entry.
STS-114	Discovery	26JUL2005	9AUG2005	14		MPLM	ISS Assembly Mission LF 1
STS-121	Discovery	4JUL2006	17JUL2006	13		MPLM	ISS Assembly Mission ULF 1.1
STS-115	Atlantis	9SEP2006	21SEP2006	12		P3/P4 Truss	ISS Assembly Mission 12A
STS-116	Discovery	9DEC2006	22DEC2006	13		P5 Truss	ISS Assembly Mission 12A.1
STS-117	Atlantis	8JUN2007	22JUN2007	14		S3/S4 Truss	ISS Assembly Mission 13A
STS-118	Endeavour	8AUG2007	21AUG2007	13		S5 Truss	ISS Assembly Mission 13A.1
STS-120	Discovery	23OCT2007	7NOV2007	15		Node 2	ISS Assembly Mission 10A
STS-122	Atlantis	7FEB2008	20FEB2008	13		Columbus Lab	ISS Assembly Mission 1E
STS-123	Endeavour	11MAR2008	26MAR2008	16		ELM-PS	ISS Assembly Mission 1J/A
STS-124	Discovery	31MAY2008	14JUN2008	14		Kibo PM JEMRMS	ISS Assembly Mission 1J
STS-126	Endeavour	14NOV2008	30NOV2008	16		MPLM	ISS Assembly Mission ULF2
STS-119	Discovery	15MAR2009	28MAR2009	13		S6 Truss	ISS Assembly Mission 15A
STS-125	Atlantis	11MAY2009	24MAY2009	13			HST Servicing Mission 4.
STS-127	Endeavour	15JUL2009	31JUL2009	15		JEM-EF ELM-ES	ISS Assembly Mission 2J/A
STS-128	Discovery	28AUG2009	11SEP2009	14		MPLM	ISS Assembly Mission 17A
STS-129	Atlantis	16NOV2009	27NOV2009	11		ELC-1 & 2	ISS Assembly Mission ULF3
STS-130	Endeavour	8FEB2010	21FEB2010	14		Node 3 Cupola	ISS Assembly Mission 20A
STS-131	Discovery	5APR2010	20APR2010	15		MPLM	ISS Assembly Mission 19A
STS-132	Atlantis	14MAY2010	26MAY2010	11		MRM1	ISS Assembly Mission ULF4
STS-133	Discovery	24FEB2011	9MAR2011	13		PMM	ISS Assembly Mission ULF5
STS-134	Endeavour	16MAY2011	1JUN2011	16		AMS	ISS Assembly Mission ULF6
STS-135	Atlantis	8JUL2011	21JUL2011	13		MPLM	ISS Assembly Mission ULF7 Last shuttle mission.