The launch of STS-1 demonstrated that a complex set of technologies could work together to lift humans into space and bring them back to Earth safely. Shortly before the Shuttle enters Earth orbit, the External Tank drops off and burns up in the atmosphere.
Shuttle missions range from a few days to approximately two weeks.
Once the Shuttle mission is complete, the orbiter reenters the atmosphere and glides unpowered to a landing at either KSC or the Dryden Flight Research Center. If weather or other concerns dictate a landing at the latter site, the orbiter is then attached to the top of a large carrier aircraft that flies the Shuttle orbiter back to KSC for processing and preparation for future flights. There have been over 100 successful Shuttle launches since the first launch in 1981.