Space Shuttle

*"STS" redirects here. For other definitions, see Glossary#STS.*
*This article is about NASA's spacecraft system. For other types of shuttles, see spaceplane. For spacecrafts in general, see spacecraft.*

## General Information

### Function

Crewed launch & reentry
Orbital & lunar operations

### Launch site(s)

Kennedy Space Center
Vandenberg Air Force Base

### Landing site(s)

Kennedy Space Center
Edwards Air Force Base
Vandenberg Air Force Base

## Specifications

### Propulsion

Gen. 1: Chemical
Gen. 2: Nuclear (NERVA)

### Dimensions

Height: 56.1 m
Diameter: 8.7 m
(Gen. 1)

### Components

Spacecraft / Spaceplane
2 SRBs (Gen. 1)
External tank (Gen. 1)

## Capacity

### Payload

To LEO: 27,500 kg
To GEO: 2,270 kg
(Gen. 1)

## History

### First used

Gen. 1: 1981
Gen. 2: 1983
Gen. 3: Mid 1990s

## Patch

The **Space Shuttle** is an American spaceplane, a type of reusable spacecraft capable of partial reusability after launch and reentry into Earth's atmosphere. Its official program name is "Space Transportation System" (STS). Space Shuttles were first introduced in August 1981 and are operated by NASA and by the US Air ForceW.

## General information

Space Shuttles have replaced the aging Apollo program in the early 80s. They are used for all kind of orbital operations around the Earth to place, repair and maintain satellites and space stations, as well as for flights to the Moon for supply missions and crew rotations of the lunar base Jamestown. Shuttles are used both for civil and military operations.

The Space Shuttles engines, as well as its SRB's, were developed at the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, AL. The shuttles are assembled and serviced at the US Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, CA.

In 1983, a bigger second generation shuttle was introduced, using a nuclear powered propulsion system. By 1995, another second generation shuttle has been built. By 1997, a third generation shuttle was in use, with an even bigger capacity.

### Operation mode

Space Shuttles launch from ground with two solid rocket boosters (SRB) and an external tank attached, or, in the case of the 2nd generation shuttles, through an air-launch system from a carrier aircraft. After their mission, they reenter Earth's atmosphere protected by it's heat shields and then glide as a spaceplane to a runway landing. After touch-down, the vehicle brakes by deploying a drag chute and then also uses wheel brakes after reaching a given velocity.

### Reusability

Beside the spacecraft itself, the empty SRB's, which are jettisoned approx. 2 minutes after launch and then recovered by supporting ships after falling into the ocean on parachutes, are reusable for most parts. The external tank is designed to break upon reentry and travel along a ballistic trajectory into the ocean. It is the only major component of the Space Shuttle system that is not reused.

## First generation Space Shuttle

The Space Shuttle was developed during the late 70s and first put into operation in fall 1981. The first shuttle was named *Enterprise*, in honor of the fictional starship from the TV-series Star TrekW.

By 1983, NASA run a fleet of 10 shuttles:

* *Atlantis*
* *Beagle*
* *Challenger*
* *Columbia*
* *Constitution*
* *Discovery*
* *Endeavour*
* *Enterprise*
* *Kon-Tiki*
* *Victoria*

### Military shuttles

In the same year NASA introduced its shuttle, the US Air Force (USAF) begun to operate its own fleet of Space Shuttles, seemingly identical to the NASA shuttles save for an alternate paint job.

## Second generation Space Shuttle

*See also: Pathfinder (Shuttle)*
Prior to 1983, NASA had already begun to develop a next generation of the Space Shuttle called "Pathfinder shuttles", equipped with the new Nuclear Engine for Rocket Vehicle Application (NERVA), the engine that was planned to also be used to bring astronauts to Mars at a later date. The new shuttle is launched in the air from a C-5 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, followed by the use of its onboard NERVA to reach orbit or the Moon.

The first of these new shuttles was named *Pathfinder*, like the whole new class, and had its maiden flight in September 1983.

Known second generation Space Shuttles:

* *Pathfinder* (OV-201)
* *Vangard* (OV-202)

Pathfinder shuttles were used for the rapid expansion of the Jamestown base (together with the Sea Dragon) and the launch of MoonLab and the Thomas Paine Space Telescope.

### Pathfinder tragedy

In 1989, a Pathfinder shuttle depressurized for an unknown reason, killing 5 Moon Marines and leading to the grounding of the whole fleet. NASA had to rearrange its forthcoming mission plans, using only its remaining Space Shuttle fleet. By 1992, the Pathfinder fleet was in use again.

## Third generation Space Shuttle

By 1997, NASA is using a new and even bigger Space Shuttle for crew transport to and from Jamestown.

## Notes

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Data based on real world data
2. ↑ While they are talking of "NASA's Pathfinder fleet" in the bonus video, only two Pathfinder shuttles are known by name, and the number of existing shuttles remains unknown.
3. ↑ There is a discrepancy with this mission. The mission status boards seen in the episodes 3x06 and 3x07 show different vehicles for Jamestown 227.
4. ↑ There is a discrepancy with the STS-number of this mission. The mission status boards seen in the episodes 3x06 and 3x07 show different numbers (95-E/G) for Jamestown 231.

* There is lots of inconsistency in the designation of the show's Space Shuttle fleet seen on numerous mission status boards and screens throughout the series, especially in season 2. For example, *Discovery* is sometimes OV-103 and sometimes OV-104, *Beagle* OV-108 or OV-109, and *Challenger* OV-099 or OV-103. Sometimes they have different designations even on the same board. The designators are *mostly* consistent in season 3 though.

## Galleries

### Launch

Space Shuttle in its launch pad at KSCMission ControlTake-offCrowd watching launch
### In operation

Space Shuttle *Columbia* with open cargo baySpace Shuttle in lunar orbitDocking with the LSAMSpace Shuttle *Columbia* departing from the MoonSpace Shuttle *Kon-Tiki* docked to Skylab
### Pathfinder shuttle

*Pathfinder* in its hangarOn its carrier aircraftSeparationAccelerating into orbitOn the way to the Moon
(with Sea Dragon)1983 mission patchGeneral Pathfinder patch

### Other

Ronald & Nandy Reagan visit the first Space ShuttleMilitary Space Shuttle
## Behind the scenes

* The Space Shuttle program in the alternative timeline of *For All Mankind* started later than in reality, where the first shuttle flight was launched on April 12, 1981 already, most probably because of the prolonged Apollo program.
* In reality, the military shuttle is a 21st century vehicle class called the *X-37BW*.
* The real Space Shuttle *Pathfinder*W is a Space Shuttle test simulator made of steel and wood.

## See also

* Spaceplane
* *Pathfinder* (OV-201)
* Buran (USSR shuttle)
* Polaris shuttle
* Spacecraft

## External links

* Space Shuttle on Wikipedia
* Space Shuttle Program on Wikipedia
* gigapan.com: Gigapan image with pan and zoom
* YouTube playlist: Space Shuttle post-flight presentations and more by "National Space Society"

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Season 3, Episode 7: "Bring It Down" (Mission status board @ 43:03) → Screenshot
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 *For All Mankind* TV Series - Season 2, Episode 1: "Every Little Thing" (Press review opening)
3. ↑ Image: NASA prepares for first Space Shuttle launch (1981-08-15)
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 *For All Mankind* TV Series - Season 2, Episode 4: "Pathfinder"
5. ↑ *For All Mankind* TV Series - Season 2, Episode 1: "Every Little Thing"
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Season 4, Episode 1: "Glasnost" (Press review intro) → Screenshot
7. ↑ Bonus Video: One Giant Leap: 1975-1982 - Military Shuttle Launch (1981)
8. ↑ Bonus Video: Another Giant Leap: 1984-1992 - Pathfinder Tragedy (1989)
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 Season 3, Episode 2: "Game Changer" (Mission status board @ 57:45) → Screenshot
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Season 2, Episode 2: "The Bleeding Edge" (Mission board @ 27:25)
11. ↑ *For All Mankind* TV Series - Season 2, Episode 2: "The Bleeding Edge"
12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 12.6 12.7 12.8 12.9 Season 2, Episode 4: "Pathfinder" (Mission board @ 35:31) → Screenshot
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 13.3 Season 3, Episode 2: "Game Changer" (Mission status board @ 07:47) → Screenshot
14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 Season 3, Episode 7: "Bring It Down" (Mission status board @ 43:00) → Screenshot
15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 15.4 Season 3, Episode 6: "New Eden" (Mission status board @ 44:50) → Screenshot
16. ↑ 16.0 16.1 16.2 Season 3, Episode 6: "New Eden" (Mission status board @ 44:25) → Screenshot