The Space Shuttle was a partially reusable low Earth orbital spacecraft system operated by NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration). Its official program name was Space Transportation System (STS), taken from a 1969 plan for a system of reusable spacecraft of which it was the only item funded for development.[1] Operational missions launched numerous satellites, conducted science experiments in orbit, and participated in construction and servicing of the International Space Station (ISS). The first of four orbital test flights occurred in 1981, leading to operational flights beginning in 1982.

From 1981 to 2011 a total of 135 missions were flown, all launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During that time period the fleet logged 1,322 days, 19 hours, 21 minutes and 23 seconds of flight time.[2] The longest orbital flight of the Shuttle was STS-80 at 17 days 15 hours, while the shortest flight was STS-51-L at one minute 13 seconds when the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart during launch. The cold morning shrank an O-Ring on the right Solid Rocket Booster causing the external fuel tank to explode. The shuttles docked with Russian space station Mir nine times and visited the ISS thirty-seven times. The highest altitude (apogee) achieved by the shuttle was 386 mi (621 km) when deploying the Hubble Space Telescope.[3] The program flew a total of 355 people representing 16 countries, and with 852 total shuttle fliers.[4] The Kennedy Space Center served as the landing site for 78 missions, while 54 missions landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California and one mission landed at White Sands, New Mexico.[5]

The first orbiter built, Enterprise, was used for atmospheric flight tests (ALT) but future plans to upgrade it to orbital capability were ultimately canceled. Four fully operational orbiters were initially built: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, and Atlantis. Challenger and Columbia were destroyed in mission accidents in 1986 and 2003 respectively, killing a total of fourteen astronauts. A fifth operational orbiter, Endeavour, was built in 1991 to replace Challenger. The Space Shuttle was retired from service upon the conclusion of STS-135 by Atlantis on 21 July 2011.[6]

Flight numbering

The U.S. Space Shuttle program was officially referred to as the Space Transportation System (STS). Specific shuttle missions were therefore designated with the prefix "STS".[2] Initially, the launches were given sequential numbers indicating order of launch, such as STS-7. Subsequent to the Apollo 13 mishap, due to Administrator of NASA James M. Beggs's triskaidekaphobia and consequent unwillingness to number a forthcoming flight as STS-13,[7][8][9][10] beginning in 1984, each mission was assigned a code, such as STS-41-B, with the first digit (or pair of digits for years 1990 and beyond) indicating the federal fiscal year offset into the program (so 41-B was scheduled for FY 1984, 51-A thru 51-L originally for FY 1985, and the third flight in FY 1995 would have been named 51-C), the second digit indicating the launch site (1 was Kennedy Space Center and 2 was Space Launch Complex 6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, although Vandenberg was never used), and the letter indicating scheduling sequence.[11] These codes were assigned when the launches were initially scheduled and were not changed as missions were delayed or rescheduled.[6] The codes were adopted from STS-41-B through STS-51-L (although the highest code used was actually STS-61-C), and the sequential numbers were used internally at NASA on all processing paperwork.

After the Challenger disaster, NASA returned to using a sequential numbering system, with the number counting from the beginning of the STS program. Unlike the initial system, however, the numbers were assigned based on the initial mission schedule, and did not always reflect actual launch order. This numbering scheme started at 26, with the first flight as STS-26R—the R suffix stood for "reflight" to disambiguate from prior missions. The suffix was used for two years through STS-33R, then the R was dropped.[6] As a result of the changes in systems, flights under different numbering systems could have the same number with one having a letter appended, e.g. flight STS-51 (a mission carried out by Discovery in 1993) was many years after STS-51-A (Discovery's second flight in 1984).[6] It wasn't until STS-127 in 2009 where the flight numbering system returned to a standard and consistent order.

Shuttle flights

Atmospheric flight tests

The Approach and Landing Test program encompassed 16 separate tests of Enterprise, covering taxi tests, uncrewed and crewed flights on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), and finally the free flight tests. The following list includes the free-flight tests, durations listed count only the orbiter free-flight time. The list does not include total time aloft along with airborne time atop of the SCA.

Order Launch date Mission Shuttle Crew Duration Landing site Notes Refs.
1 12 August 1977 ALT-12
 Enterprise 2 00 h 05 m Edwards [12][13][14][15]
2 13 September 1977 ALT-13
 Enterprise 2 00 h 05 m Edwards
  • Second free flight
 [12][13]
3 23 September 1977 ALT-14
 Enterprise 2 00 h 05 m Edwards
  • Third free flight
 [12][13]
4 12 October 1977 ALT-15
 Enterprise 2 00 h 02 m Edwards
  • Fourth free flight
  • First flight without tailcone (operational configuration)
 [12][13][15][16]
5 26 October 1977 ALT-16
 Enterprise 2 00 h 02 m Edwards
  • Final free flight
  • Final non-captive flight of Enterprise
  • First landing on runway rather than lakebed
 [12][13][17]

Launches and orbital flights

Order Launch date Mission Shuttle Crew[a] Duration Launch pad Landing site Notes Refs.
1 12 April 1981
12:00:04 UTC
07:00:04 EST 		STS-1
 Columbia 2 02d 06h LC-39A Edwards
  • First orbital flight test
  • First reusable orbital spacecraft flight
  • Maiden flight of Columbia
  • Maiden flight of the Space Shuttle program
 [18][19][20]
2 12 November 1981
15:10:00 UTC
10:10:00 EST 		STS-2
 Columbia 2 02d 06h LC-39A Edwards
  • Second orbital flight test
  • First reuse of a crewed orbital space vehicle
  • First test of Canadarm robot arm
  • Truncated due to fuel cell problem
  • Shortest orbital mission flown
 [21][22][23]
3 22 March 1982
16:00:00 UTC
11:00:00 EST 		STS-3
 Columbia 2 08d 00h LC-39A White Sands
  • Third orbital test
  • Only landing at White Sands, New Mexico
 [24][25][26]
4 27 June 1982
15:00:00 UTC
11:00:00 EDT 		STS-4
 Columbia 2 07d 01h LC-39A Edwards [27][28][29][30]
5 11 November 1982
12:19:00 UTC
07:19:00 EST 		STS-5
 Columbia 4 05d 02h LC-39A Edwards [31][32][33][34]
6 4 April 1983
18:30:00 UTC
13:30:00 EST 		STS-6
 Challenger 4 05d 00h LC-39A Edwards
  • Tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS-A) deployment
  • Maiden flight of Challenger
  • First Space Shuttle Extravehicular activity
 [35][36]
7 18 June 1983
11:33:00 UTC
07:33:00 EDT 		STS-7
 Challenger 5 06d 02h LC-39A Edwards
  • First American woman in space, Sally Ride
  • Multiple comsat deployments
  • First deployment and retrieval of a Shuttle pallet satellite
 [37][38]
8 30 August 1983
06:32:00 UTC
02:32:00 EDT 		STS-8
 Challenger 5 06d 01h LC-39A Edwards
  • Comsat deployment
  • First flight of an African American in space, Guion Bluford
  • Test of robot arm on heavy payloads with Payload Flight Test Article
  • First night launch
  • First night landing
 [39][40]
9 28 November 1983
16:00:00 UTC
11:00:00 EST 		STS-9
 Columbia 6 10d 07h LC-39A Edwards [41][42]
10 3 February 1984
13:00:00 UTC
08:00:00 EST 		STS-41-B
 Challenger 5 07d 23h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • Deployed two Comsats
  • First untethered spacewalk by Bruce McCandless II with Manned Maneuvering Unit
  • First landing at Shuttle Landing Facility at Kennedy
  • Dry run of equipment for Solar Maximum Mission rescue
 [43][44]
11 6 April 1984
13:58:00 UTC
08:58:00 EST 		STS-41-C
 Challenger 5 06d 23h LC-39A Edwards
  • Solar Maximum Mission servicing
  • First satellite rescue by astronauts
  • Long Duration Exposure Facility deployment
 [45][46][47]
12 30 August 1984
12:41:50 UTC
08:41:50 EDT 		STS-41-D
 Discovery 6 06d 00h LC-39A Edwards [48][49]
13 5 October 1984
11:03:00 UTC
07:03:00 EDT 		STS-41-G
 Challenger 7 08d 05h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • Earth Radiation Budget Satellite deployment
  • First flight of two women in space, Sally Ride and Kathryn Sullivan
  • First woman in space twice, Ride
  • First spacewalk by American woman, Sullivan
  • First Canadian in space, Marc Garneau
  • First spaceflight of Australian origin and first Oceanian in space, Paul Scully-Power
 [50][51]
14 8 November 1984
12:15:00 UTC
07:15:00 EST 		STS-51-A
 Discovery 5 07d 23h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • Multiple comsat deployments
  • First mother in space, Anna Lee Fisher
  • Retrieval of two other comsats (Palapa B2 and Westar VI), which were subsequently refurbished on Earth and reflown
 [52][53]
15 24 January 1985
19:50:00 UTC
14:50:00 EST 		STS-51-C
 Discovery 5 03d 01h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • First classified Department of Defense (DoD) mission
  • Magnum satellite deployment
  • First flight of an Asian American in space, Ellison Onizuka
 [28][54][55]
16 12 April 1985
13:59:05 UTC
08:59:05 EST 		STS-51-D
 Discovery 7 06d 23h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • Multiple comsat deployments
  • First flight of a sitting politician in space, Jake Garn
  • First impromptu Extravehicular activity of program to fix Syncom F3 (Leasat 3)
 [56][57]
17 29 April 1985
16:02:18 UTC
12:02:18 EDT 		STS-51-B
 Challenger 7 07d 00h LC-39A Edwards
  • First mission with Spacelab module in a fully operational configuration
  • Conducted experiments in microgravity
  • First African-American Space Shuttle pilot, Frederick D. Gregory
 [58][59]
18 17 June 1985
11:33:00 UTC
07:33:00 EDT 		STS-51-G
 Discovery 7 07d 01h LC-39A Edwards [60][61]
19 29 July 1985
22:00:00 UTC
18:00:00 EDT 		STS-51-F
 Challenger 7 07d 22h LC-39A Edwards
  • Spacelab mission
  • Abort to Orbit. Faulty temperature sensor incorrectly indicated that fuel turbine discharge temperature exceeded the limit. Therefore, one main engine was shut down at T+345 s, resulting in a much lower orbit than planned.
  • All mission objectives achieved
 [62][63]
20 27 August 1985
10:58:01 UTC
06:58:01 EDT 		STS-51-I
 Discovery 5 07d 02h LC-39A Edwards
  • Multiple comsat deployments
  • Rescue of Syncom F3 (Leasat-3)
 [64][65]
21 3 October 1985
15:15:30 UTC
11:15:30 EDT 		STS-51-J
 Atlantis 5 04d 01h LC-39A Edwards
  • Second classified DoD mission
  • Defense Satellite Communications System satellite deployment
  • Maiden flight of Atlantis
 [28][66][67]
22 30 October 1985
17:00:00 UTC
12:00:00 EST 		STS-61-A
 Challenger 8 07d 00h LC-39A Edwards
  • Largest crew on a spaceflight
  • Third flight of Spacelab
  • Spacelab-D1 microgravity experiments
  • Mission funded by Germany[b]
  • Last successful mission of Challenger
  • First Dutchman in space, Wubbo Ockels
 [68][69]
23 26 November 1985
24:29:00 UTC
19:29:00 EST 		STS-61-B
 Atlantis 7 06d 21h LC-39A Edwards [70][71]
24 12 January 1986
11:55:00 UTC
06:55:00 EST 		STS-61-C
 Columbia 7 06d 02h LC-39A Edwards
  • Comsat deployment
  • Flight of US Representative Bill Nelson
  • Second African-American Space Shuttle pilot, Charles Bolden
  • Last successful mission before STS-51-L
 [72][73]
25 28 January 1986
16:38:00 UTC
11:38:00 EST 		STS-51-L
 Challenger 7 01m 13s[c] LC-39B Did not land[d]
  • Planned tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS-B) and Spartan Halley deployment
  • First Space Shuttle launch from LC-39B
  • First private citizen astronaut, Christa McAuliffe (part of Teacher in Space Project)
  • First fatal Space Shuttle mission
  • First first-time astronauts to die during mission besides McAuliffe, Michael J. Smith and Gregory Jarvis
  • Solid Rocket Booster (SRB) leak and breakup destroyed the orbiter and killed crew
 [74][75]
26 29 September 1988
15:37:00 UTC
11:37:00 EDT 		STS-26
 Discovery 5 04d 01h LC-39B Edwards
  • Tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS-C) deployment
  • First post-Challenger flight
  • First Space Shuttle mission with an all-veteran crew
 [76][77]
27 2 December 1988
14:30:34 UTC
09:30:34 EST 		STS-27
 Atlantis 5 04d 09h LC-39B Edwards
  • Third classified DoD mission
  • First post-Challenger flight to have first-time astronauts, Guy S. Gardner and William M. Shepherd
  • Lacrosse 1 deployment
  • Heavy damage to the thermal protection system resulted in extreme heat damage to the right wing
 [28][78][79][80]
28 13 March 1989
14:57:00 UTC
09:57:00 EST 		STS-29
 Discovery 5 04d 23h LC-39B Edwards
  • Tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS-D) deployment
  • IMAX camera
  • Space Station Heat Pipe Advanced Radiator Element I space station radiator experiment
 [81][82]
29 4 May 1989
18:46:59 UTC
14:46:59 EDT 		STS-30
 Atlantis 5 04d 00h LC-39B Edwards
  • Magellan Venus probe deployment
  • First post-Challenger flight to carry a female astronaut
 [83][84]
30 8 August 1989
12:37:00 UTC
08:37:00 EDT 		STS-28
 Columbia 5 05d 01h LC-39B Edwards
  • Fourth classified DoD mission
  • Satellite Data System deployment
 [28][85][86]
31 18 October 1989
16:53:40 UTC
12:53:40 EDT 		STS-34
 Atlantis 5 04d 23h LC-39B Edwards
  • Galileo Jupiter probe deployment
  • First post-Challenger flight to have a first-time woman astronaut, Ellen S. Baker
  • First time since the Challenger disaster with two women astronauts, Baker and Shannon Lucid
  • IMAX camera
 [87][88]
32 22 November 1989
24:23:30 UTC
19:23:30 EST 		STS-33
 Discovery 5 05d 00h LC-39B Edwards
  • Fifth classified DoD mission
  • Deployment of Magnum
  • First African-American Space Shuttle commander, Frederick D. Gregory
 [28][89][90][91]
33 9 January 1990
12:35:00 UTC
07:35:00 EST 		STS-32
 Columbia 5 10d 21h LC-39A Edwards
  • Syncom IV-F5 satellite deployment
  • Long Duration Exposure Facility retrieval
  • IMAX camera
 [92][93]
34 28 February 1990
07:50:22 UTC
02:50:22 EST 		STS-36
 Atlantis 5 04d 10h LC-39A Edwards
  • Sixth classified DoD mission
  • Misty reconnaissance satellite deployment
 [28][94][95]
35 24 April 1990
12:33:51 UTC
08:33:51 EDT 		STS-31
 Discovery 5 05d 01h LC-39B Edwards [96][97]
36 6 October 1990
11:47:15 UTC
07:47:15 EDT 		STS-41
 Discovery 5 04d 02h LC-39B Edwards [98][99]
37 15 November 1990
23:48:15 UTC
18:48:15 EST 		STS-38
 Atlantis 5 04d 21h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • Seventh classified DoD mission
  • Likely SDS2-2 deployed
 [28][100][101]
38 2 December 1990
06:49:01 UTC
01:49:01 EST 		STS-35
 Columbia 7 08d 23h LC-39B Edwards
  • Use of ASTRO-1 observatory
  • First post-Challenger mission to have a crew of 7
  • First time since the Challenger disaster to have two payload specialists, Samuel T. Durrance and Ronald A. Parise
 [102][103]
39 5 April 1991
14:22:45 UTC
09:22:45 EST 		STS-37
 Atlantis 5 05d 23h LC-39B Edwards
  • Compton Gamma Ray Observatory deployment and EVA repair
 [104][105]
40 28 April 1991
11:33:14 UTC
07:33:14 EDT 		STS-39
 Discovery 7 08d 07h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • First unclassified DoD mission (eighth DoD mission overall)
  • Military science experiments
 [28][106][107]
41 5 June 1991
13:24:51 UTC
09:24:51 EDT 		STS-40
 Columbia 7 09d 02h LC-39B Edwards
  • Spacelab mission
  • First space mission with three women
 [108][109]
42 2 August 1991
15:02:00 UTC
11:02:00 EDT 		STS-43
 Atlantis 5 08d 21h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • Tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS-E) deployment
  • First woman in space thrice, Shannon Lucid
 [110][111]
43 12 September 1991
23:11:04 UTC
19:11:04 EDT 		STS-48
 Discovery 5 05d 08h LC-39A Edwards
  • Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite deployment
 [112][113]
44 24 November 1991
23:44:00 UTC
18:44:00 EST 		STS-44
 Atlantis 6 06d 22h LC-39A Edwards
  • Second unclassified DoD mission (ninth DoD mission overall)
  • DSP satellite deployment
 [114][115]
45 22 January 1992
14:52:33 UTC
09:52:33 EST 		STS-42
 Discovery 7 08d 01h LC-39A Edwards
  • Spacelab mission
  • First Canadian woman in space, Roberta Bondar
 [116][117]
46 24 March 1992
13:13:40 UTC
08:13:40 EST 		STS-45
 Atlantis 7 08d 22h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • ATLAS-1 science platform
  • Second African-American Space Shuttle commander, Charles Bolden
  • First spaceflight of British and English origin, Michael Foale
  • First Belgian in space, Dirk Frimout
 [118][119]
47 7 May 1992
23:40:00 UTC
19:40:00 EDT 		STS-49
 Endeavour 7 08d 21h LC-39B Edwards
  • Intelsat VI hand-retrieval and repair
  • Maiden flight of Endeavour
  • First three-person Extravehicular activity
  • Assembly of Station by EVA Methods (ASEM) space station truss experiment EVA
  • Record four EVAs total for mission
  • First landing with a drag chute
 [120][121]
48 25 June 1992
16:12:23 UTC
12:12:23 EDT 		STS-50
 Columbia 7 13d 19h LC-39A Kennedy SLF [122][123]
49 31 July 1992
13:56:48 UTC
09:56:48 EDT 		STS-46
 Atlantis 7 07d 23h LC-39B Kennedy SLF [124][125]
50 12 September 1992
14:23:00 UTC
10:23:00 EDT 		STS-47
 Endeavour 7 07d 22h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • Spacelab-J
  • First flight of an African-American woman in space, Mae Jemison
  • First and only flight of a married couple in space, Mark C. Lee and Jan Davis
  • First Japanese in space, Mamoru Mohri
  • Japan funded mission
 [126][127]
51 22 October 1992
17:09:39 UTC
13:09:39 EDT 		STS-52
 Columbia 6 09d 20h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • LAGEOS II deployment
  • Microgravity experiments
 [128][129]
52 2 December 1992
13:24:00 UTC
08:24:00 EST 		STS-53
 Discovery 5 07d 07h LC-39A Edwards
  • Partially classified 10th and final DoD mission
  • Likely deployment of SDS2 satellite
 [28][130][131]
53 13 January 1993
13:59:30 UTC
08:59:30 EST 		STS-54
 Endeavour 5 05d 23h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • Tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS-F) deployment
 [132][133]
54 8 April 1993
05:29:00 UTC
01:29:00 EDT 		STS-56
 Discovery 5 09d 06h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • ATLAS-2 science platform
 [134][135]
55 26 April 1993
14:50:00 UTC
10:50:00 EDT 		STS-55
 Columbia 7 09d 23h LC-39A Edwards [136][137]
56 21 June 1993
13:07:22 UTC
09:07:22 EDT 		STS-57
 Endeavour 6 09d 23h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • Scientific Experiments aboard the SPACEHAB module
  • Retrieval of EURECA
 [138][139]
57 12 September 1993
11:45:00 UTC
07:45:00 EDT 		STS-51
 Discovery 5 09d 20h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • ACTS satellite deployed
  • Orbiting Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer with IMAX camera deployed
  • First night landing at Kennedy Space Center
 [140][141]
58 18 October 1993
14:53:10 UTC
10:53:10 EDT 		STS-58
 Columbia 7 14d 00h LC-39B Edwards [142][143]
59 2 December 1993
09:27:00 UTC
04:27:00 EST 		STS-61
 Endeavour 7 10d 19h LC-39B Kennedy SLF [144][145]
60 3 February 1994
12:10:00 UTC
07:10:00 EST 		STS-60
 Discovery 6 07d 06h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • SPACEHAB
  • Wake Shield Facility
  • First Russian cosmonaut to fly on the Space Shuttle, Sergei Krikalev
 [146][147]
61 4 March 1994
13:53:00 UTC
08:53:00 EST 		STS-62
 Columbia 5 13d 23h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • Microgravity experiments
 [148][149]
62 9 April 1994
11:05:00 UTC
07:05:00 EDT 		STS-59
 Endeavour 6 11d 05h LC-39A Edwards
  • Experiments aboard Shuttle Radar Laboratory-1
 [150][151]
63 8 July 1994
04:43:00 UTC
00:43:00 EDT 		STS-65
 Columbia 7 14d 17h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • Spacelab mission
  • First Japanese woman in space, Chiaki Mukai
 [152][153]
64 9 September 1994
22:22:05 UTC
18:22:05 EDT 		STS-64
 Discovery 6 10d 22h LC-39B Edwards
  • Multiple science experiments
  • SPARTAN
 [154][155]
65 30 September 1994
11:16:00 UTC
07:16:00 EDT 		STS-68
 Endeavour 6 11d 05h LC-39A Edwards
  • Experiments aboard Space Radar Laboratory-2
 [156][157]
66 3 November 1994
16:59:43 UTC
11:59:43 EST 		STS-66
 Atlantis 6 10d 22h LC-39B Edwards
  • ATLAS-3 science platform
 [158][159]
67 3 February 1995
05:22:04 UTC
00:22:04 EST 		STS-63
 Discovery 6 08d 06h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • Mir rendezvous
  • SPACEHAB
  • IMAX camera
  • First female Space Shuttle pilot, Eileen Collins
 [160][161]
68 2 March 1995
06:38:13 UTC
01:38:13 EST 		STS-67
 Endeavour 7 16d 15h LC-39A Edwards
  • ASTRO-2 Deployment
 [162][163]
69 27 June 1995
19:32:19 UTC
15:32:19 EDT 		STS-71
 Atlantis 7/8 09d 19h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • First Shuttle-Mir docking
 [164][165]
70 13 July 1995
13:41:55 UTC
09:41:55 EDT 		STS-70
 Discovery 5 08d 22h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • Tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS-G) deployment
 [166][167]
71 7 September 1995
15:09:00 UTC
11:09:00 EDT 		STS-69
 Endeavour 5 10d 20h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • Wake Shield Facility
  • SPARTAN
 [168][169]
72 20 October 1995
13:53:00 UTC
09:53:00 EDT 		STS-73
 Columbia 7 15d 21h LC-39B Kennedy SLF [170][171]
73 12 November 1995
12:30:43 UTC
07:30:43 EST 		STS-74
 Atlantis 5 08d 04h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • Second Shuttle-Mir docking
  • Delivered docking module
  • Delivered IMAX cargo bay camera
 [172][173]
74 11 January 1996
09:41:00 UTC
04:41:00 EST 		STS-72
 Endeavour 6 08d 22h LC-39B Kennedy SLF [174][175]
75 22 February 1996
20:18:00 UTC
15:18:00 EST 		STS-75
 Columbia 7 15d 17h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • Tethered satellite reflight, lost due to broken tether
 [176][177]
76 22 March 1996
08:13:04 UTC
03:13:04 EST 		STS-76
 Atlantis 6/5 09d 05h LC-39B Edwards
  • Shuttle-Mir docking
  • First woman in space on a fifth time, Shannon Lucid (during launch)
 [178][179]
77 19 May 1996
10:30:00 UTC
06:30:00 EDT 		STS-77
 Endeavour 6 10d 00h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • SPACEHAB
  • SPARTAN
 [180][181]
78 20 June 1996
14:49:00 UTC
10:49:00 EDT 		STS-78
 Columbia 7 16d 21h LC-39B Kennedy SLF [182][183]
79 16 September 1996
08:54:49 UTC
04:54:49 EDT 		STS-79
 Atlantis 6/6 10d 03h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • Shuttle-Mir docking
  • First woman in space on a fifth time, Shannon Lucid (during landing)
 [184][185]
80 19 November 1996
19:55:47 UTC
14:55:47 EST 		STS-80
 Columbia 5 17d 15h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • Wake Shield Facility
  • Orbiting and Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer-Shuttle Pallet Satellite (ORFEUS) II
  • Longest Space Shuttle mission flown
  • Story Musgrave becomes the only astronaut to fly on all five Space Shuttle orbiters
 [186][187]
81 12 January 1997
09:27:23 UTC
04:27:23 EST 		STS-81
 Atlantis 6/6 10d 04h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • Shuttle-Mir docking
 [188][189]
82 11 February 1997
08:55:17 UTC
03:55:17 EST 		STS-82
 Discovery 7 09d 23h LC-39A Kennedy SLF [190][191]
83 4 April 1997
19:20:32 UTC
14:20:32 EST 		STS-83
 Columbia 7 03d 23h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • Spacelab mission
  • Truncated due to fuel cell problem
  • Second female Space Shuttle pilot, Susan L. Still
 [192][193]
84 15 May 1997
08:07:48 UTC
04:07:48 EDT 		STS-84
 Atlantis 7/7 09d 05h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • Shuttle-Mir docking
  • First Russian woman in space, Yelena Kondakova
  • First Peruvian and South American in space, Carlos I. Noriega
 [194][195]
85 1 July 1997
18:02:00 UTC
14:02:00 EDT 		STS-94
 Columbia 7 15d 16h LC-39A Kennedy SLF [196][197]
86 7 August 1997
14:41:00 UTC
10:41:00 EDT 		STS-85
 Discovery 6 11d 20h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • Deployed and retrieved Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere-Shuttle Pallet Satellite-2 (CRISTA-SPAS)
 [198][199]
87 25 September 1997
14:34:19 UTC
10:34:19 EDT 		STS-86
 Atlantis 7/7 10d 19h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • Shuttle-Mir docking
 [200][201]
88 19 November 1997
19:46:00 UTC
14:46:00 EST 		STS-87
 Columbia 6 15d 16h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • Microgravity experiments
  • 2 Extravehicular activities
  • SPARTAN
  • First spaceflight by a woman of Indian origin and Asian American woman, Kalpana Chawla
  • First Ukrainian astronaut, Leonid Kadeniuk
 [202][203]
89 22 January 1998
02:48:15 UTC[e]
21:48:15 EST 		STS-89
 Endeavour 7/7 08d 19h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • Shuttle-Mir docking
 [204][205]
90 17 April 1998
18:19:00 UTC
14:19:00 EDT 		STS-90
 Columbia 7 15d 21h LC-39B Kennedy SLF [206][207]
91 2 June 1998
22:06:24 UTC
18:06:24 EDT 		STS-91
 Discovery 6/7 09d 19h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • Last Shuttle-Mir docking
 [208][209]
92 29 October 1998
19:19:34 UTC
14:19:34 EST 		STS-95
 Discovery 7 08d 21h LC-39B Kennedy SLF [210][211]
93 4 December 1998
08:35:34 UTC
03:35:34 EST 		STS-88
 Endeavour 6 11d 19h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • ISS assembly flight 2A: Node 1
  • First Shuttle ISS assembly flight
 [212][213]
94 27 May 1999
10:49:42 UTC
06:49:42 EDT 		STS-96
 Discovery 7 09d 19h LC-39B Kennedy SLF [214][215]
95 23 July 1999
04:31:00 UTC
00:31:00 EDT 		STS-93
 Columbia 5 04d 22h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • Chandra X-ray Observatory deployed
  • First female Space Shuttle commander, Eileen Collins
 [216][217]
96 19 December 1999
00:50:00 UTC[e]
19:50:00 EST 		STS-103
 Discovery 7 07d 23h LC-39B Kennedy SLF [218][219]
97 11 February 2000
16:43:40 UTC
12:43:40 EDT 		STS-99
 Endeavour 6 11d 05h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • Shuttle Radar Topography Mission
 [220][221]
98 19 May 2000
10:11:10 UTC
06:11:10 EDT 		STS-101
 Atlantis 7 09d 21h LC-39A Kennedy SLF [222][223]
99 8 September 2000
12:45:47 UTC
08:45:47 EDT 		STS-106
 Atlantis 7 11d 19h LC-39B Kennedy SLF [224][225]
100 11 October 2000
23:17:00 UTC
18:17:00 EST 		STS-92
 Discovery 7 12d 21h LC-39A Edwards
  • ISS assembly flight 3A: Z1 truss
  • Third female Space Shuttle pilot, Pamela Melroy
 [226][227]
101 30 November 2000
03:06:01 UTC[e]
22:06:01 EST 		STS-97
 Endeavour 5 10d 19h LC-39B Kennedy SLF [228][229]
102 7 February 2001
23:13:02 UTC
18:13:02 EST 		STS-98
 Atlantis 5 12d 21h LC-39A Edwards
  • ISS assembly flight 5A: Destiny lab
 [230][231]
103 8 March 2001
11:42:09 UTC
06:42:09 EST 		STS-102
 Discovery 7/7 12d 19h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • ISS supply and crew rotation
 [232][233]
104 19 April 2001
18:40:42 UTC
14:40:42 EDT 		STS-100
 Endeavour 7 11d 21h LC-39A Edwards
  • ISS assembly flight 6A: robotic arm
  • First spacewalk by a Canadian, Chris Hadfield
 [234][235]
105 12 July 2001
09:03:59 UTC
05:03:59 EDT 		STS-104
 Atlantis 5 12d 18h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • ISS assembly flight 7A: Quest Joint Airlock
 [236][237]
106 10 August 2001
21:10:14 UTC
17:10:14 EDT 		STS-105
 Discovery 7/7 11d 21h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • ISS supply and crew rotation
 [238][239]
107 5 December 2001
22:19:28 UTC
17:19:28 EST 		STS-108
 Endeavour 7/7 11d 19h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • ISS supply and crew rotation
 [240][241]
108 1 March 2002
11:22:02 UTC
06:22:02 EST 		STS-109
 Columbia 7 10d 22h LC-39A Kennedy SLF [242][243]
109 8 April 2002
20:44:19 UTC
16:44:19 EDT 		STS-110
 Atlantis 7 10d 19h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • ISS assembly flight 8A: S0 truss
  • Jerry L. Ross becomes the first astronaut to make seven spaceflights
 [244][245]
110 5 June 2002
21:22:49 UTC
17:22:49 EDT 		STS-111
 Endeavour 7/7 13d 20h LC-39A Edwards
  • ISS supply and crew rotation
  • Mobile Base System
  • Franklin Chang-Díaz becomes the second astronaut to make seven spaceflights
 [246][247]
111 7 October 2002
19:45:51 UTC
15:45:51 EDT 		STS-112
 Atlantis 6 10d 19h LC-39B Kennedy SLF [248][249]
112 23 November 2002
00:49:47 UTC[e]
19:49:47 EST 		STS-113
 Endeavour 7/7 13d 18h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • ISS assembly flight 11A: P1 truss, crew rotation
  • Last successful mission before STS-107
 [250][251]
113 16 January 2003
15:39:00 UTC
10:39:00 EST 		STS-107
 Columbia 7 15d 22h LC-39A Did not land[d]
  • SPACEHAB
  • First Israeli in space, Ilan Ramon
  • First first-time astronauts to die during re-entry besides Ramon, William C. McCool, David M. Brown, and Laurel Clark
  • Re-entry breakup disintegrated the orbiter and killed crew
 [252][253]
114 26 July 2005
14:39:00 UTC
10:39:00 EDT 		STS-114
 Discovery 7 13d 21h LC-39B Edwards
  • First post-Columbia flight
  • First post-Columbia mission to have two first-time astronauts, Soichi Noguchi and Charles J. Camarda
  • Flight safety Evaluation/testing
  • ISS supply/repair
  • MPLM Raffaello
 [254][255]
115 4 July 2006
18:37:55 UTC
14:37:55 EDT 		STS-121
 Discovery 7/6 12d 18h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • ISS Flight ULF1.1: supply and crew rotation
  • MPLM Leonardo
  • First post-Columbia flight to have two first-time women astronauts, Lisa Nowak and Stephanie Wilson
 [256][257]
116 9 September 2006
15:14:55 UTC
11:14:55 EDT 		STS-115
 Atlantis 6 11d 19h LC-39B Kennedy SLF [258][259]
117 9 December 2006
24:47:35 UTC
20:47:35 EDT 		STS-116
 Discovery 7/7 12d 21h LC-39B Kennedy SLF
  • ISS assembly flight 12A.1: P5 Truss & SPACEHAB-SM
  • Crew rotation
  • First night launch since STS-113
  • Final Space Shuttle launch from LC-39B
 [260][261]
118 8 June 2007
23:38:04 UTC
19:38:04 EDT 		STS-117
 Atlantis 7/7 13d 20h LC-39A Edwards [262][263]
119 8 August 2007
22:36:42 UTC
18:36:42 EDT 		STS-118
 Endeavour 7 12d 18h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • ISS assembly flight 13A.1: S5 Truss & SPACEHAB-SM & ESP-3
  • First use of Station-to-Shuttle Power Transfer System (SSPTS)
  • First oldest first-time astronaut, Barbara Morgan (55 years old at the time of mission)
 [264][265]
120 23 October 2007
15:38:19 UTC
11:38:19 EDT 		STS-120
 Discovery 7/7 15d 02h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • ISS assembly flight 10A: US Harmony module
  • Crew rotation
  • Second female Space Shuttle commander, Pamela Melroy
 [266][267]
121 7 February 2008
19:45:30 UTC
14:45:30 EST 		STS-122
 Atlantis 7/7 12d 18h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • ISS assembly flight 1E: European Laboratory Columbus
  • Crew rotation
 [268][269]
122 11 March 2008
06:28:14 UTC
02:28:14 EDT 		STS-123
 Endeavour 7/7 15d 18h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • ISS assembly flight 1J/A: Experiment Logistics Module-Pressurized Section (ELM PS) & SPDM
  • Crew rotation
 [270][271]
123 31 May 2008
21:02:12 UTC
17:02:12 EDT 		STS-124
 Discovery 7/7 13d 18h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • ISS assembly flight 1J: Japanese modules Kibo and RMS
 [272][273]
124 14 November 2008
24:55:39 UTC
19:55:39 EST 		STS-126
 Endeavour 7/7 15d 20h LC-39A Edwards
  • ISS assembly flight ULF2: MPLM Leonardo
  • Crew rotation
 [274][275]
125 15 March 2009
23:43:44 UTC
19:43:44 EDT 		STS-119
 Discovery 7/7 12d 19h LC-39A Kennedy SLF [276][277]
126 11 May 2009
18:01:56 UTC
14:01:56 EDT 		STS-125
 Atlantis 7 12d 21h LC-39A Edwards [278][279][280]
127 15 July 2009
22:03:10 UTC
18:03:10 EDT 		STS-127
 Endeavour 7/7 15d 16h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • ISS assembly flight 2J/A: Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility (EF) and ELM ES
 [281][282]
128 28 August 2009
03:59:37 UTC[e]
23:59:37 EDT 		STS-128
 Discovery 7/7 13d 21h LC-39A Edwards
  • ISS assembly flight 17A: MPLM Leonardo
  • Crew rotation
  • Final landing at Edwards AFB
 [283][284]
129 16 November 2009
19:28:01 UTC
14:28:01 EST 		STS-129
 Atlantis 6/7 10d 19h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • ISS assembly flight ULF3: ExPRESS Logistics Carriers (ELCs) 1 & 2
  • Final Space Shuttle mission to perform a crew rotation
 [285][286]
130 8 February 2010
09:14:07 UTC
04:14:07 EST 		STS-130
 Endeavour 6 13d 18h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • ISS assembly flight 20A: Node 3 and Cupola
 [287][288]
131 5 April 2010
10:21:25 UTC
06:21:25 EDT 		STS-131
 Discovery 7 15d 03h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • ISS assembly flight 19A: Utility and Logistics Flight 4: Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo
  • Last night launch of the Shuttle Program
  • Final Space Shuttle mission with rookie astronauts
  • Final Space Shuttle mission with a crew of 7
 [289][290]
132 14 May 2010
18:20:09 UTC
14:20:09 EDT 		STS-132
 Atlantis 6 11d 18h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • ISS assembly flight ULF4: Mini-Research Module 1
  • Originally intended as Atlantis' final flight if STS-135 wasn't approved
 [291][292]
133 24 February 2011
21:53:24 UTC
16:53:24 EST 		STS-133
 Discovery 6 12d 19h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • ISS assembly flight ULF5, Permanent Multipurpose Module Leonardo, ExPRESS Logistics Carrier 4
  • Final flight of Discovery
  • Final daytime landing of the Shuttle Program
 [293][294]
134 16 May 2011
12:56:28 UTC
08:56:28 EDT 		STS-134
 Endeavour 6 15d 18h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • ISS assembly flight ULF6, ELC 3, Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer
  • Final flight of Endeavour
 [295][296]
135 8 July 2011
15:29:04 UTC
11:29:04 EDT 		STS-135
 Atlantis 4 12d 18h LC-39A Kennedy SLF
  • Payload Multi-Purpose Logistics Module (MPLM) Raffaello
  • Final flight of Atlantis
  • Final flight of the Space Shuttle program
 [297][298][299]

Shuttle missions

Canceled missions

One initial emergency flight abort (RTLS) sub-orbital test mission was canceled due to high risk. Many other planned missions were canceled due to the late development of the shuttle, and the Challenger and Columbia disasters.

Four missions were cut short by a day or more while in orbit: STS-2 (equipment failure),[22] STS-35 (weather),[102] STS-44 (equipment failure),[193] and STS-83 (equipment failure, relaunched as STS-94).[193]

Contingency missions

STS-300 was the designation for the Space Shuttle Launch on Need (LON) missions to be launched on short notice for STS-114 and STS-121, in the event that the shuttle became disabled or damaged and could not safely return to Earth.[300][301][302] The rescue flight for STS-115, if needed, would have been STS-301. After STS-115, the rescue mission designations were based on the corresponding regular mission that would be replaced should the rescue mission be needed. For example, the STS-116 rescue mission was branded STS-317, because the normal mission scheduled after STS-116 was STS-117. Should the rescue mission have been needed, the crew and vehicle for STS-117 would assume the rescue mission profile and become STS-317. All potential rescue missions were to be launched with a crew of four, and would return with ten or eleven crew members, depending on the number of crew launched on the rescued shuttle. Missions were expected to last approximately eleven days. None of the planned contingency missions were ever flown.[303]

No contingency mission was planned for STS-135, the final shuttle mission. Instead, NASA planned to effect any required rescues one-by-one, using Russian Soyuz spacecraft.[304]

Flight Rescue flight
STS-114 (Discovery) STS-300 (Atlantis)
STS-121 (Discovery) STS-300 (Atlantis)
STS-115 (Atlantis) STS-301 (Discovery)
STS-116 (Discovery) STS-317 (Atlantis)
STS-117 (Atlantis) STS-318 (Endeavour)
STS-118 (Endeavour) STS-322 (Discovery)
STS-120 (Discovery) STS-320 (Atlantis)[f]
STS-122 (Atlantis) STS-323 (Discovery)[g]
STS-123 (Endeavour) STS-324 (Discovery)
STS-124 (Discovery) STS-326 (Endeavour)
STS-125 (Atlantis) STS-400 (Endeavour)
STS-134 (Endeavour) STS-335 (Atlantis)

Flight statistics

Orbiters

Key
‡  Test vehicle
†  Lost
Shuttle Designation Flights Flight time Orbits Longest flight First flight Last flight Mir
dockings 		ISS dockings Sources
Flight Date Flight Date
Enterprise ‡ OV-101 5 00d 00h 19m —N/a 00d 00h 05m ALT-12 12 August 1977 ALT-16 26 October 1977 —N/a —N/a [306][307][308][309]
Columbia † OV-102 28 300d 17h 47m 15s 4,808 17d 15h 53m 18s STS-1 12 April 1981 STS-107 16 January 2003 0 0 [306][307][310][311][312]
Challenger † OV-099 10 62d 07h 56m 15s 995 08d 05h 23m 33s STS-6 4 April 1983 STS-51-L 28 January 1986 0 0 [306][307][313][314]
Discovery OV-103 39 364d 22h 39m 29s 5,830 15d 02h 48m 08s STS-41-D 30 August 1984 STS-133 24 February 2011 1 13 [306][307][315][316]
Atlantis OV-104 33 306d 14h 12m 43s 4,848 13d 20h 12m 44s STS-51-J 3 October 1985 STS-135 8 July 2011 7 12 [306][307][317][318]
Endeavour OV-105 25 296d 03h 34m 02s 4,677 16d 15h 08m 48s STS-49 7 May 1992 STS-134 16 May 2011 1 12 [306][307][319][320]
Total 135 1,330d 18h 9m 44s 21,158 9 37


Flights

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015
  •   Enterprise
  •   Columbia
  •   Challenger
  •   Discovery
  •   Atlantis
  •   Endeavour

Timeline of missions

See also

Notes

  1. If there are two numbers in this column, it signifies the number of astronauts launched and landed with, respectively. If the two numbers are the same, this indicates a crew swap took place during the mission.
  2. At the time it was West Germany from 1949 to 1990.
  3. Mission was intended to have a duration for 06d 34m.
  4. This shuttle was intended to land at the Kennedy SLF.
  5. The listed UTC time occurs the next day.
  6. NASA called this mission STS-320 instead of STS-321.[302]
  7. Originally scheduled to be Endeavour, changed to Discovery due to contamination issues.[305]

References

  1. "Report of the Space Task Group, 1969". NASA. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  2. Malik, Tarik (21 July 2011). "NASA's Space Shuttle By the Numbers: 30 Years of a Spaceflight Icon". Space.com. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  3. Pinchefsky, Carol (18 April 2012). "5 Horrifying Facts You Didn't Know About the Space Shuttle". Forbes.
  4. "Space Shuttle Era Facts" (PDF). NASA. 2011. FS-2011-7-142-KSC. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  5. Ryba, Jeanne; Dunbar, Brian (11 September 2012). "Space Shuttle Launch and Landing". NASA. Archived from the original on 14 September 2015. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  6. Jenkins, p. 524.
  7. "Robert L. Crippen" (PDF). Johnson Space Center. NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project. 26 May 2006. p. 45. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  8. "Terry J. Hart" (PDF). Johnson Space Center. NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project. 10 April 2003. pp. 18–19. Archived from the original (PDF) on 3 March 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  9. "Paul J. Weitz" (PDF). Johnson Space Center. NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project. 26 March 2000. pp. 12–58. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 March 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  10. "James D. A. van Hoften" (PDF). Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center. NASA Johnson Space Center Oral History Project. 5 December 2007. p. 20. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-03. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  11. Norton, Lily (30 June 2011). "8 Surprising Space Shuttle Facts". Space.com.
  12. Heppenheimer, p. 123.
  13. Dumoulin, Jim. "Enterprise (OV-101)". Kennedy Space Center: NASA. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
  14. Goodwin, p. 32.
  15. Howell, Elizabeth (9 October 2012). "Enterprise: The Test Shuttle". Space.com.
  16. Jenkins, p. 212.
  17. Jenkins, p. 210.
  18. Duggins, p. 58.
  19. Chen, p. 9.
  20. Goodwin, pp. 41–201.
  21. Duggins, p. 64.
  22. Chen, p. 11.
  23. Goodwin, pp. 206–264.
  24. Chen, p. 13.
  25. Goodwin, pp. 267–344.
  26. Wilford, John Noble (18 March 1982). "Space Shuttle Landing Site Is Shifted Because of Rains". The New York Times. ProQuest 121923320.
  27. Goodwin, pp. 348–409.
  28. Cassutt, Michael (August 2009). "Secret Space Shuttles". Air and Space Magazine. Smithsonian Institution.
  29. "Mission Archives: STS-4". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  30. Chen, p. 15.
  31. Goodwin, pp. 412–463.
  32. Duggins, p. 65.
  33. "Mission Archives: STS-5". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  34. Chen, p. 17.
  35. "Mission Archives: STS-6". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  36. Chen, p. 19.
  37. "Mission Archives: STS-7". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  38. Chen, p. 21.
  39. "Mission Archives: STS-8". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  40. Chen, p. 23.
  41. "Mission Archives: STS-9". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  42. Chen, p. 25.
  43. "Mission Archives: STS-41B". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  44. Chen, p. 27.
  45. Wilford, John Noble (5 April 1984). "Space Shuttle Poised For First Service Call On Satellite in Orbit". The New York Times. ProQuest 122322581.
  46. "Mission Archives: STS-41C". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  47. Chen, p. 29.
  48. "Mission Archives: STS-41D". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  49. Chen, p. 31.
  50. "Mission Archives: STS-41G". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  51. Chen, p. 33.
  52. "Mission Archives: STS-51A". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  53. Chen, p. 35.
  54. "Mission Archives: STS-51C". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  55. Chen, p. 37.
  56. "Mission Archives: STS-41G". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  57. Chen, p. 39.
  58. "Mission Archives: STS-51B". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  59. Chen, p. 41.
  60. "Mission Archives: STS-51G". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  61. Chen, p. 43.
  62. "Mission Archives: STS-51F". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  63. Chen, p. 45.
  64. "Mission Archives: STS-51I". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  65. Chen, p. 47.
  66. "Mission Archives: STS-51J". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  67. Chen, p. 49.
  68. "Mission Archives: STS-61A". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  69. Chen, p. 51.
  70. "Mission Archives: STS-61B". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  71. Chen, p. 53.
  72. "Mission Archives: STS-61C". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  73. Chen, p. 55.
  74. "Mission Archives: STS-51L". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 5 December 2005.
  75. Chen, p. 57.
  76. "Mission Archives: STS-26". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  77. Chen, p. 59.
  78. "Mission Archives: STS-27". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  79. Chen, p. 61.
  80. "Shuttle Atlantis almost lost in 1988". Bad Astronomy. 2009-03-31. Archived from the original on 2019-03-08.
  81. "Mission Archives: STS-29". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  82. Chen, p. 63.
  83. "Mission Archives: STS-30". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  84. Chen, p. 65.
  85. "Mission Archives: STS-28". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  86. Chen, p. 67.
  87. "Mission Archives: STS-34". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  88. Chen, p. 69.
  89. "Mission Archives: STS-33". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  90. "Diversity in Space". NASA. 2005-02-24. Archived from the original on 2005-03-06.
  91. Chen, p. 71.
  92. "Mission Archives: STS-32". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  93. Chen, p. 73.
  94. "Mission Archives: STS-36". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  95. Chen, p. 75.
  96. "Mission Archives: STS-31". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  97. Chen, p. 77.
  98. "Mission Archives: STS-41". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  99. Chen, p. 79.
  100. "Mission Archives: STS-38". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  101. Chen, p. 81.
  102. "Mission Archives: STS-35". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  103. Chen, p. 83.
  104. "Mission Archives: STS-37". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  105. Chen, p. 85.
  106. "Mission Archives: STS-39". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  107. Chen, p. 87.
  108. "Mission Archives: STS-40". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  109. Chen, p. 89.
  110. "Mission Archives: STS-43". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  111. Chen, p. 91.
  112. "Mission Archives: STS-48". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  113. Chen, p. 93.
  114. "Mission Archives: STS-44". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  115. Chen, p. 95.
  116. "Mission Archives: STS-42". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  117. Chen, p. 97.
  118. "Mission Archives: STS-45". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  119. Chen, p. 99.
  120. "Mission Archives: STS-49". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  121. Chen, p. 101.
  122. "Mission Archives: STS-50". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  123. Chen, p. 103.
  124. "Mission Archives: STS-46". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  125. Chen, p. 105.
  126. "Mission Archives: STS-47". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  127. Chen, p. 107.
  128. "Mission Archives: STS-52". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  129. Chen, p. 109.
  130. "Mission Archives: STS-53". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  131. Chen, p. 111.
  132. "Mission Archives: STS-54". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  133. Chen, p. 113.
  134. "Mission Archives: STS-56". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  135. Chen, p. 115.
  136. "Mission Archives: STS-55". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  137. Chen, p. 117.
  138. "Mission Archives: STS-57". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  139. Chen, p. 119.
  140. "Mission Archives: STS-51". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  141. Chen, p. 121.
  142. "Mission Archives: STS-58". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  143. Chen, p. 123.
  144. "Mission Archives: STS-61". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  145. Chen, p. 125.
  146. "Mission Archives: STS-60". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  147. Chen, p. 127.
  148. "Mission Archives: STS-62". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  149. Chen, p. 129.
  150. "Mission Archives: STS-59". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  151. Chen, p. 131.
  152. "Mission Archives: STS-65". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  153. Chen, p. 133.
  154. "Mission Archives: STS-64". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  155. Chen, p. 135.
  156. "Mission Archives: STS-68". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  157. Chen, p. 137.
  158. "Mission Archives: STS-66". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  159. Chen, p. 139.
  160. "Mission Archives: STS-63". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  161. Chen, p. 141.
  162. "Mission Archives: STS-67". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  163. Chen, p. 143.
  164. "Mission Archives: STS-71". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  165. Chen, p. 145.
  166. "Mission Archives: STS-70". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  167. Chen, p. 147.
  168. "Mission Archives: STS-69". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  169. Chen, p. 149.
  170. "Mission Archives: STS-73". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  171. Chen, p. 151.
  172. Chen, p. 153.
  173. "Mission Archives: STS-74". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  174. "Mission Archives: STS-72". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  175. Chen, p. 155.
  176. "Mission Archives: STS-75". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  177. Chen, p. 157.
  178. "Mission Archives: STS-76". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  179. Chen, p. 159.
  180. "Mission Archives: STS-77". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  181. Chen, p. 161.
  182. "Mission Archives: STS-78". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  183. Chen, p. 163.
  184. "Mission Archives: STS-79". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  185. Chen, p. 165.
  186. "Mission Archives: STS-80". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  187. Chen, p. 167.
  188. "Mission Archives: STS-81". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  189. Chen, p. 169.
  190. "Mission Archives: STS-82". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  191. Chen, p. 171.
  192. "Mission Archives: STS-83". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  193. Chen, p. 173.
  194. "Mission Archives: STS-84". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  195. Chen, p. 175.
  196. "Mission Archives: STS-94". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  197. Chen, p. 177.
  198. "Mission Archives: STS-85". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  199. Chen, p. 179.
  200. "Mission Archives: STS-86". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  201. Chen, p. 181.
  202. "Mission Archives: STS-87". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  203. Chen, p. 183.
  204. "Mission Archives: STS-89". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  205. Chen, p. 185.
  206. "Mission Archives: STS-90". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  207. Chen, p. 187.
  208. "Mission Archives: STS-91". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  209. Chen, p. 189.
  210. "Mission Archives: STS-95". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  211. Chen, p. 191.
  212. "Mission Archives: STS-88". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  213. Chen, p. 193.
  214. "Mission Archives: STS-96". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  215. Chen, p. 195.
  216. "Mission Archives: STS-93". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  217. Chen, p. 197.
  218. "Mission Archives: STS-103". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 16 February 2016.
  219. Chen, p. 199.
  220. "Mission Archives: STS-99". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  221. Chen, p. 201.
  222. "Mission Archives: STS-101". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  223. Chen, p. 203.
  224. "Mission Archives: STS-106". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016.
  225. Chen, p. 205.
  226. "Mission Archives: STS-92". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  227. Chen, p. 207.
  228. "Mission Archives: STS-97". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  229. Chen, p. 209.
  230. "Mission Archives: STS-98". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  231. Chen, p. 211.
  232. "Mission Archives: STS-102". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  233. Chen, p. 213.
  234. "Mission Archives: STS-100". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  235. Chen, p. 215.
  236. "Mission Archives: STS-104". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 21 September 2008.
  237. Chen, p. 217.
  238. "Mission Archives: STS-105". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  239. Chen, p. 219.
  240. "Mission Archives: STS-108". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  241. Chen, p. 221.
  242. "Mission Archives: STS-109". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  243. Chen, p. 223.
  244. "Mission Archives: STS-110". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  245. Chen, p. 225.
  246. "Mission Archives: STS-111". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  247. Chen, p. 227.
  248. "Mission Archives: STS-112". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  249. Chen, p. 229.
  250. "Mission Archives: STS-113". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  251. Chen, p. 231.
  252. "Mission Archives: STS-107". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  253. Chen, p. 233.
  254. "Mission Archives: STS-114". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  255. Chen, p. 235.
  256. "Mission Archives: STS-121". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  257. Chen, p. 237.
  258. "Mission Archives: STS-115". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 19 December 2015.
  259. Chen, p. 239.
  260. "Mission Archives: STS-116". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  261. Chen, p. 241.
  262. "Mission Archives: STS-117". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  263. Chen, p. 243.
  264. "Mission Archives: STS-117". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  265. Chen, p. 245.
  266. "Mission Archives: STS-120". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  267. Chen, p. 247.
  268. "Mission Archives: STS-122". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  269. Chen, p. 249.
  270. "Mission Archives: STS-123". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  271. Chen, p. 251.
  272. "Mission Archives: STS-124". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  273. Chen, p. 253.
  274. "Mission Archives: STS-126". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016.
  275. Chen, p. 255.
  276. "Mission Archives: STS-119". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  277. Chen, p. 257.
  278. "Mission Archives: STS-125". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  279. Chen, p. 259.
  280. "Hubble's Amazing Rescue (transcript)". NOVA. Season 37. Episode 2. 13 October 2009. PBS. Rocky Mountain PBS.
  281. "Mission Archives: STS-127". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012.
  282. Chen, p. 261.
  283. "Mission Archives: STS-128". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  284. Chen, p. 263.
  285. "Mission Archives: STS-129". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  286. Chen, p. 265.
  287. "Mission Archives: STS-130". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 7 September 2015.
  288. Chen, p. 267.
  289. "Mission Archives: STS-131". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 31 July 2010.
  290. Chen, p. 269.
  291. "Mission Archives: STS-132". National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Archived from the original on 14 January 2016.
  292. Chen, p. 271.
  293. "Mission Archives: STS-133". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  294. Chen, p. 273.
  295. "Mission Archives: STS-134". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  296. Chen, p. 275.
  297. "Mission Archives: STS-135". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  298. Chen, p. 277.
  299. Reichhardt, Tony (January 2013). "The Last Shuttle Flight: On Board Atlantis, the Closing of an Era". Air and Space Magazine. Smithsonian Institution. Archived from the original on 2014-05-11.
  300. "Contingency Shuttle Crew Support (CSCS)/Rescue Flight Resource Book" (PDF). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2016.
  301. "Flight Readiness Review Briefing Transcript" (PDF). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 October 2012.
  302. Bergin, Chris (15 April 2007). "NASA Sets New Launch Date Targets Through to STS-124". CSCS flight numbers. NASASpaceFlight.com.
  303. Gebhardt, Chris (31 May 2010). "STS-335: NASA Continues Planning for Contingency Launch On Need Mission". NASASpaceFlight.com.
  304. Ned, Potter (8 July 2011). "NASA Space Shuttle: Only Four Astronauts on Final Launch From Cape Canaveral". ABC News.
  305. Bergin, Chris (7 February 2008). "STS-122: Atlantis Launches – Endeavour LON doubt". NASASpaceFlight.com.
  306. Chen, Adam (2012). Wallack, William; Gonzalez, George (eds.). Celebrating 30 years the Space Shuttle Program. Washington, D.C., United States: NASA. p. 280. ISBN 978-0-16-090202-4.
  307. "NASA Facts: Space Shuttle Era Facts" (PDF). John F. Kennedy Space Center.
  308. "Enterprise (OV-101)". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  309. "Fast Facts on the Space Shuttle Enterprise". Fox News Insider. Fox News.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  310. "Space: The Space Shuttle Columbia". The New York Times.
  311. "Fast Facts: Space Shuttle Columbia". Fox News. 2 February 2003. Archived from the original on 2012-11-19.
  312. "Columbia (OV-102)". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  313. "Challenger (STA-099, OV-99)". National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
  314. "Space Shuttle Challenger Facts". Florida Today.
  315. Wall, Mike (19 April 2012). "Space Shuttle Discovery: 5 Surprising Facts About NASA's Oldest Orbiter". Space.com.
  316. "Orbiter, Space Shuttle, OV-103, Discovery". Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
  317. Fletcher, Dan (14 May 2010). "Space Shuttle Atlantis Blasts Off: Five Fast Facts". Time.
  318. "Shuttle Launch Facts: 15 Things to Know about Space Shuttle Atlantis' Mission". Florida Today.
  319. "The Space Shuttle Endeavour Fact Sheet". CBS News.
  320. "Space Shuttle Endeavour Facts". Florida Today.

Bibliography