International Space Shuttle program

Flag of the International Space Shuttle program

The **International** **Space Shuttle program** is the largest multi-collaborative space program carried out by all the major space agencies worldwide. It involves the collaboration of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the European Space Agency (ESA), the Brazilian Space Agency (AEB), Argentina National Space Activities Commission (CONAE), Japan Aerospace eXploration Agency (JAXA), the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), the Australian Space Agency, and Roscosmos of Russia. The official name - the Space Transportation System (STS), was taken from a 1969 plan for a system of reusable spacecraft, where in the end two major designs were selected for intergovernmental operation, and other variants handed over to private enterprises.

The Space Shuttle is comprised of an orbiter, launched with two reusable solid rocket boosters and a disposable external fuel tank. It can carry up to eight-four astronauts (in the largest orbiter; the standard is forty three) and up to 50,000 lb (23,000 kg) of payload into low Earth orbit (LEO). When its mission is completed, the orbiter re-enters the Earth's atmosphere and lands like a glider at almost any airport in the world, as long as the runway is at least 3.1 km.

The Shuttle is the only winged manned spacecraft to achieve orbit and landing, and the only large-scale reusable manned space vehicle that ever makes multiple flights into orbit. Its missions involve crew rotation for orbital space stations (the Skylab Workshop Station and the International Space Station), carrying and deploying large and small satellites into Low Earth Orbit, performing science missions, servicing space telescopes, and is even capable of retrieving satellites and/or space station modules from orbit and bringing them safely back to Earth.

After each mission, the fleet of orbiters are refurbished by talented and passionate engineers, and can make up to 10 flights per year. Each orbiter has a lifespan of 400 flights (or over 55 years of operational life). Designed by Raphael J. Chryslar and his firm SSPX, this vehicle remains the most iconic and practical spacecraft for routine space missions. The Soyuz-Laptop by comparison, is more expensive to fly per passenger seat, but is better suited for very long duration missions where it can remain docked to a space station (or independent flight) for much longer than the shuttle.

## Background

Various shuttle concepts had been explored since the late 1960s and early 70s.

Laurence O'Brien, a musician and aerospace engineer and his personal friend Raphael J. Chryslar jointly envisioned a series of resuable spacecraft capable of launching crew and cargo to space, and returning to Earth like a glider before refurbishment. O'Brien hoped that this future spacecraft be operated like a global endeavor, where international space agencies can collaboratively run a joint space shuttle program to launch and deliver large amounts of crew to space stations, launch and repair satellites and even retrieve them from orbit back to Earth. NASA, ESA and the other space agencies accepted their idea, and together began building large amounts of infrastructure to host the new program.

In the meantime, NASA launched *Odyssey* - their first space station in September 1975 (nearly five years before the first shuttle spaceflight). Two years later, *Odyssey* became a national public relations disgrace as a result of failed experiments and several on-board fires crippling the crew morale and interior decor. The Skylab Workshop Station however became not only a national success, but also an international engineering marvel.

After years of ground work, from space representative meetings to design, development and construction of new support facilities, the International Space Shuttle program was formally commenced in July 1976. A fleet of seven space shuttle spacecraft were ordered, where the first one was scheduled to launch in 1980.

U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who is a fan of space shuttles, invited Laurence and Raphael to the White House on March 24th 1979, to announce the name of the first shuttle orbiter. Applauded by media attending, Reagan presented to the audience that the first shuttle orbiter was to be name after Laurence, for his pioneering dream, work and development role in the creation of the International Space Shuttle program.

The first prototype orbiter - *O'Brien* (OV-099), which was completed in its factory a year earlier but left without a name until March 24 1982, began a series of approach and landing flight tests at the Kennedy Space Center, to verify the aerodynamics. The protoype orbiter successfully completed the ALT phase in December 1982 and was retrofitted with spaceflight capability.