NASA's Shuttle Program is one of the most exciting programs in the world, and will, along with other programs world wide, lead to the exploration of new worlds, and someday even new star systems. Today only astronauts can visit Outer Space, This is because a space shuttle mission is very expensive. However NASA is developing new space crafts that will eventually replace the Space Shuttle such as the x34 and x33. These space craft will make it several times cheaper to fly a space mission, and may eventually allow everyone to take a vacation in space. Well it is an ingenious cross between an airplane, and a rocket.
Lets explore all the different parts of the shuttle using the diagram below.
The U.S. Space Shuttle Columbia completed its first mission in April 1981 and made several successive flights. It was followed by the Challenger, which made its first mission in April 1983. There after there have been many successful flights in a number of different shuttles. As we discussed above, the Shuttle Program is one of NASA's most exciting endeavors. Through the work done by astronauts during these shuttle missions scientists learn the effects of weightlessness on humans, they learn how to make better equipment, they develop invaluable medical, and technological advances, and they set the stage for future exploration.