It was a technologically advanced space ship and the Soviet Union flew twenty-five missions between 1985 and 1988 with it. Unfortunately, funding ran out and the program was halted in 1989. Today one of the Soviet shuttles has been sold to an Australian firm as a tourist exhibit. After considering all the accomplishments of the last century, I have to give the Space Shuttle Program my choice for greatness in engineering programs. The reliability has been so good that we sometimes forget that this is not a 747 taking off.
Lets hope our luck continues right into and through the space station era.
If you are interested in future flights or past flights, it is available with the click of a mouse. Join the discussion of this column in Discussion Center, ChipCenter's gathering spot for EE professionals to talk about work, the industry, trends, and best practices. Join the discussion of this column in Discussion Center, ChipCenter's gathering spot for EE professionals to talk about work, the industry, trends, and best practices. About the Author Frank Greenhalgh has been working in power supplies and systems for 38 years. He has many impressive accomplishments and patents.