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• The Space Shuttle is a reusable spacecraft designed and used by NASA. It consists of propulsion mechanisms attached to a winged craft that houses astronauts and mission payloads. The propulsion mechanisms detach from the orbiter at different stages during liftoff. At the end of th emission, the orbiter returns to Earth and lands like a traditional aircraft.

  On September 21, 2009 the Space Shuttle Discovery returned to florida after a successful landing at the auxiliary landing base at Edwards air force base in California.

  The Space Shuttle Endeavour finally launched on Wednesday July 15, 2009 after a month of delays due to bad weather. Its 11 day mission is designed to complete Japan's Kibo research laboratory on the International Space Station and is one of the most complicated missions ever attempted by NASA.http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSTRE56A1MD20090716

• Fast Facts

  1. Missions overseen by NASA's Space Transportation System (STS)
  2. Carry five to seven astronauts
  3. Operating lifetime: 100 launches
  4. First launch: March 25, 1979
  5. Total shuttles produced: 7
  6. Currently active: 3Space.com: All About the Space Shuttle
  7. Two Shuttles, Challenger and Columbia, were lost in accidents.
  8. The Shuttle can reach a speed of 16,000 mph in less than nine minutes. From launch to reaching orbit 140 miles above the Earth takes 8-9 minutes.http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jUONSlvigQYkgRjHCkuyDs2O-mgQ

• Shuttle Fleet and Status

  ( In order of production )

• Challenger

  Destroyed January 26, 1986

• Endeavour

  Status: Dry Dock

  Missions:
  Last or Current: STS-127
  Slated for: STS-130 ( 2010 )

• Discovery

  Status: Docked

  
  Missions:
  Last or Current: STS-12-
  Slated for: STS-13?

• Atlantis

  Status: Launch Preparation.

  
  Missions:
  
  Slated for: STS-129 ( November 16 )

• Space Shuttle Components

  • Orbiter
    1. Winged spacecraft
    2. Houses equipment and personnel
    3. Outfitted with three liquid-fueled engines
  • External fuel tank
    1. Large reddish-orange tube
    2. Discarded during liftoff
  • Two solid-fuel booster rockets
    1. Strapped onto the external fuel tank
    2. Discarded during liftoff
    3. Recovered later for reuseAnswers.com: Space Shuttle Definition

• Active Fleet

  1. Space Shuttle Atlantis
  2. Space Shuttle Discovery
  3. Space Shuttle EndeavourSpace.com: All About the Space Shuttle

• Display/Test Flight Fleet

  1. Space Shuttle Enterprise
  2. Space Shuttle Pathfinder
  3. Space Shuttle ExplorerSpace.com: All About the Space Shuttle

• Lost During Missions

  1. Space Shuttle Challenger
     • Destroyed during liftoff on January 28, 1986
  2. Space Shuttle Columbia
     • Destroyed during re-entry on February 1, 2003Space.com: All About the Space Shuttle

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  International Space Station | NASA | Shuttle Launch | Sea Launch | Richard Feynman | Ares Orion

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