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Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a manned orbital rocket and spacecraft system operated by NASA on 135 missions from 1981 to 2011. The system combined rocket launch, orbital spacecraft, and re-entry spaceplane with modular add-ons...
Timeline of Events
1972
1.5.1972
U.S. President Richard Nixon orders the development of a space shuttle program.
1976
9.17.1976
The first Space Shuttle, Enterprise, is unveiled by NASA.
1979
3.25.1979
The first fully functional space shuttle orbiter, ''Columbia'', is delivered to the John F. Kennedy Space Center to be prepared for its first launch.
1981
4.12.1981
The first launch of a Space Shuttle: ''Columbia'' launches on the STS-1 mission. thumb launch: ''Columbia''.]]
1982
3.22.1982
NASA's Space Shuttle ''Columbia'', is launched from the Kennedy Space Center on its third mission, STS-3.
6.27.1982
Space Shuttle Columbia launched from the Kennedy Space Center on the final research and development flight mission, STS-4.
1983
4.7.1983
During STS-6, astronauts Story Musgrave and Don Peterson perform the first space shuttle spacewalk.
1984
8.30.1984
STS-41-D: The Space Shuttle ''Discovery'' takes off on its maiden voyage.
10.5.1984
Marc Garneau becomes the first Canadian in space, aboard the Space Shuttle ''Challenger''.
1988
5.4.1988
The PEPCON disaster rocks Henderson, Nevada, as tons of space shuttle fuel detonates during a fire.
9.29.1988
Space Shuttle: NASA launches STS-26, the return to flight mission, after the Space Shuttle ''Challenger'' disaster. 160px, flown by OV-103.]]
1994
3.4.1994
Space shuttle STS-62 (''Columbia'' 16) launches into orbit.
1996
1.11.1996
Space Shuttle program: STS-72 launches from the Kennedy Space Center marking the start of the 74th Space Shuttle mission and the 10th flight of ''Endeavour''.
2000
10.11.2000
NASA launches STS-92, the 100th Space Shuttle mission, using Space Shuttle Discovery.
2005
7.27.2005
STS-114: NASA grounds the Space Shuttle, pending an investigation of the continuing problem with the shedding of foam insulation from the external fuel tank. During ascent, the external tank of the Space Shuttle Discovery sheds a piece of foam slightly smaller than the piece that caused the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster; this foam does not strike the spacecraft.