The Space Shuttle, officially known as the , was the world’s first partially reusable spacecraft, operating from 1981 to 2011. Over 30 years, the program flew 135 missions , launched 355 people from 16 countries, and traveled more than 542 million miles.
The Shuttle system consisted of three primary components that worked together for launch: The Space Shuttle
: Known for carrying the first American woman and African American into space; destroyed 73 seconds after liftoff in 1986. The Space Shuttle, officially known as the ,
: A prototype used for atmospheric flight tests; it never flew in space but is currently on display at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. How It Worked officially known as the