Also known as: スペースシャトル
The Space Shuttle was a partially reusable Spacecraft operated by NASA from 1981 until 2011.
The main part of the Space Shuttle was the orbiter: the reusable spaceplane that actually transported crew and cargo into Space. Launched vertically with the aid of a Rocket, the orbiter would subsequently land like a conventional Airplane upon return. Six orbiters (five operational) were built between 1974 and 1991, and would fly a total of 135 missions over a 30 year period, during which it played a crucial role in the construction of the International Space Station.
After their retirement, all but two (Challenger & Columbia) of the orbiters were preserved and are currently on display at museums.
Examples
- Liftoff
- Landing
Orbiters
- Enterprise prototype, not spaceworthy
- Columbia (lost, 2003)
- Challenger (lost, 1986)
- Discovery
- Atlantis
- Endeavour