Title: Space Shuttle fact archive
First published: 2007
Description: The concept for a reusable winged space vehicle has been a dream since the early 20th century. In 1981 the United States launched the first such vehicle, Columbia, and proved that winged spacecraft could work. Now, due to political pressure, the Orbiter fleet is slated to be decommissioned, but not before it fulfills its original mandate—to build a permanent space station.

This Pocket Space Guide, #10 in the series, details the exploits of the Space Shuttle fleet through triumph and tragedy, as it carried more than 300 people, 40 space laboratories and more than 60 satellites into space. From the first test flights to the détente missions to Russia’s Mir space station, thousands of facts can be found in this Space Shuttle Fact Archive.
Subjects: Astronauts, Design and construction, Manned space flight, Payloads, Space Shuttle Program (U.S.), Space shuttle missions, Space shuttle orbiters, Space shuttles, Space transportation system flights, Space vehicles, Spacecraft design, Spacecrews, United States, United States. National Aeronautics and Space Administration, SPACE SHUTTLE MISSIONS, SPACE SHUTTLE ORBITERS, SPACE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM FLIGHTS, SPACECRAFT DESIGN, SPACECREWS
Places: United States
Time periods: 1979-2010
LC classification: TL795.5 .G65 2007