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Space Shuttle Program Timeline

(January 5, 1972 – July 21, 2011)

The Space Shuttle Program was NASA's human spaceflight program spanning three decades, featuring the world's first reusable orbital spacecraft. It launched 135 missions, deployed satellites, built and serviced the International Space Station, repaired the Hubble Space Telescope, and advanced scientific research before its retirement in 2011. Less

Go to: Timeline | Event List | Key Facts | Directory

Program Origins and Development

Space Transportation System plan proposed

1969

The official program name of the Space Shuttle was carried over from the 1969 plan for the Space Transportation System (STS) of reusable spacecraft, which envisioned a comprehensive system for routine Earth-to-orbit transportation.

Space Shuttle program formally commences

1972

NASA's Space Shuttle program formally commenced in 1972, becoming the sole focus of NASA's human spaceflight operations after the Apollo, Skylab, and Apollo–Soyuz programs concluded in 1975. The shuttle was presented to the public as a 'Space Truck' to build a US space station in low Earth orbit during the 1980s.

Image source: Space Shuttle program

Space Shuttle program formally commences

Proposed nuclear lunar shuttle canceled

1972

Only the shuttle and supporting rockets were funded for development; a proposed nuclear lunar shuttle that was part of the 1969 Space Transportation System plan was canceled in 1972.

Enterprise first free flight test

Feb 18, 1977

Enterprise's first test flight took place on February 18, 1977, only five years after the Shuttle program was formally initiated, paving the way for orbital flights of the operational fleet.

Image source: Space Shuttle Enterprise

Enterprise first free flight test

Columbia delivered to Kennedy Space Center

Mar 25, 1979

The space-worthy orbiter Columbia was delivered to Kennedy Space Center on March 25, 1979, preparing it for its historic first launch two years later.

Image source: Space Shuttle Columbia

Columbia delivered to Kennedy Space Center

Challenger delivered to Kennedy Space Center

Jul 1982

Challenger (OV-099) was delivered to Kennedy Space Center in July 1982, expanding the shuttle fleet as missions became more frequent.

Image source: Space Shuttle Challenger

Challenger delivered to Kennedy Space Center

Discovery delivered to Kennedy Space Center

Nov 1983

Discovery (OV-103) was delivered to Kennedy Space Center in November 1983, becoming one of the workhorses of the shuttle fleet.

Image source: Space Shuttle Discovery

Discovery delivered to Kennedy Space Center

Atlantis delivered to Kennedy Space Center

Apr 1985

Atlantis (OV-104) was delivered to Kennedy Space Center in April 1985, joining the growing shuttle fleet.

Image source: Space Shuttle Atlantis

Atlantis delivered to Kennedy Space Center

Endeavour delivered to Kennedy Space Center

May 1991

Endeavour (OV-105) was built to replace Challenger using structural spare parts originally intended for the other orbiters, and was delivered to Kennedy Space Center in May 1991; it was first launched a year later.

Image source: Space Shuttle Endeavour

Endeavour delivered to Kennedy Space Center

Costs and Successor Programs

Early cost estimates for the program released

1972

Early during development, NASA estimated the program would cost $7.45 billion ($43 billion in 2011 dollars) in development costs and $9.3 million ($54 million in 2011 dollars) per flight. Payload delivery to low-Earth orbit was estimated as low as $118 per pound based on marginal launch costs.

HL-20 personnel launch vehicle canceled

1993

The HL-20 lifting body concept, studied as a potential crew transport vehicle, was cancelled in 1993.

Image source: HL-20 Personnel Launch System

HL-20 personnel launch vehicle canceled

Reusable Launch Vehicle program initiated

1994

NASA initiated the Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV) program in 1994 as an effort toward next-generation space transportation, spending about US$1 billion developing the X-33 in hopes of operation by 2005.

Image source: Reusable launch vehicle

Reusable Launch Vehicle program initiated

Vision for Space Exploration announced

2004

According to President George W. Bush's 2004 Vision for Space Exploration, the next human NASA program would be Constellation, with Ares I and Ares V launch vehicles and the Orion spacecraft; however, Constellation was never fully funded.

Image source: Vision for Space Exploration

Vision for Space Exploration announced

Commercial Orbital Transportation Services begins

2006

The COTS program began in 2006 with the purpose of creating commercially operated uncrewed cargo vehicles to service the ISS after the Shuttle's retirement.

Image source: Commercial Orbital Transportation Services

Commercial Orbital Transportation Services begins

Obama administration shifts to commercial spaceflight

2010

In early 2010, the Obama administration asked Congress to endorse a plan with heavy reliance on the private sector for delivering cargo and crew to low Earth orbit, moving away from the Constellation program. That same year, the incremental cost per Shuttle flight was $409 million.

Image source: Development of the Commercial Crew Program

Obama administration shifts to commercial spaceflight

Commercial Crew Development program initiated

2010

The CCDev program was initiated in 2010 to create commercially operated crewed spacecraft capable of delivering at least four crew members to the ISS, staying docked for 180 days, and returning them safely to Earth.

Image source: Commercial Crew Program

Commercial Crew Development program initiated

Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 launched

Dec 5, 2014

Exploration Flight Test-1, an uncrewed test flight of the Orion spacecraft, launched on December 5, 2014, on a Delta IV Heavy rocket, advancing NASA's post-Shuttle deep space exploration goals.

Image source: Exploration Flight Test-1

Orion Exploration Flight Test-1 launched

Artemis II crewed lunar flyby

Apr 1, 2026

Artemis II, the first crewed mission of the Artemis program, launched on April 1, 2026, on a free-return flyby of the Moon at a distance of 8,520 kilometers, continuing the human spaceflight legacy built by the Shuttle program.

Image source: Artemis II

Artemis II crewed lunar flyby

Missions and Operations

STS-1: First space shuttle launch

Apr 12, 1981

Columbia launched on April 12, 1981—the 20th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin's space flight—on mission STS-1 with a crew of two, beginning NASA's era of routine Earth-to-orbit crew and cargo transportation.

Image source: STS-1

STS-1: First space shuttle launch

International Space Station formally initiated

1983

President Ronald Reagan formally initiated plans for a space station in 1983, which evolved into the International Space Station. Long delays, design changes, and cost over-runs forced the service life of the Space Shuttle to be extended several times until 2011.

Image source: International Space Station

International Space Station formally initiated

Hubble Space Telescope deployed by Discovery

Apr 24, 1990

On April 24, 1990, Discovery carried the Hubble Space Telescope into space during STS-31, one of the program's most celebrated scientific achievements.

Image source: STS-31

Hubble Space Telescope deployed by Discovery

Final Hubble servicing mission approved

Oct 31, 2006

On October 31, 2006, NASA announced approval of the launch of Atlantis for the fifth and final shuttle servicing mission to the Hubble Space Telescope, scheduled for August 28, 2008. However, SM4/STS-125 eventually launched in May 2009.

Image source: STS-125

Final Hubble servicing mission approved

ISS construction completed without major foam issues

Aug 2007

Following the success of STS-121, all subsequent missions were completed without major foam problems, and construction of the ISS was completed. During STS-118 in August 2007, the orbiter was struck by a foam fragment on liftoff, but damage was minimal compared to Columbia.

Image source: STS-118

ISS construction completed without major foam issues

Disasters and Recovery

Vandenberg AFB shuttle missions canceled

1986

Plans to use Vandenberg Air Force Base for Space Shuttle launches were canceled after the Challenger disaster in 1986.

Image source: Vandenberg Space Force Base

Vandenberg AFB shuttle missions canceled

Challenger disaster

Jan 28, 1986

Close-up video footage of Challenger during its final launch on January 28, 1986, clearly showed that problems began due to an O-ring failure on the right solid rocket booster. All seven crew members were killed, and there was a delay of 32 months before the next Shuttle launch.

Image source: Space Shuttle Challenger disaster

Challenger disaster

Columbia disaster

Feb 1, 2003

After operating accident-free for seventeen years and 88 missions following the Challenger disaster, Columbia broke up on reentry on February 1, 2003, killing all seven crew members. A delay of 29 months followed before the next Shuttle launch.

Return to Flight mission STS-114

2005

While the 'Return to Flight' mission STS-114 in 2005 was successful, a similar piece of foam from a different portion of the external tank was shed, prompting further safety modifications.

Image source: STS-114

Return to Flight mission STS-114

Second Return to Flight mission STS-121

Jul 4, 2006 - Jul 17, 2006

The second 'Return to Flight' mission, STS-121, launched on July 4, 2006, at 14:37 EDT. Discovery touched down successfully on July 17, 2006, at 09:14 EDT at Kennedy Space Center, restoring confidence in the fleet.

Image source: STS-121

Second Return to Flight mission STS-121

Retirement and Legacy

Final flight STS-135 by Atlantis

Jul 8, 2011 - Jul 21, 2011

The final flight of the Space Shuttle program was STS-135, flown by Atlantis, launching on July 8, 2011. It marked the end of 135 missions and the retirement of the final Shuttle in the fleet.

Image source: STS-135

Final flight STS-135 by Atlantis

Space Shuttle program formally ends

Aug 31, 2011

The Space Shuttle program formally ended on August 31, 2011, after accomplishing routine transportation for Earth-to-orbit crew and cargo from 1981 to 2011—serving twice as long as originally designed. Its total 30-year cost through 2011, adjusted for inflation, was $196 billion.

Dragon delivers commercial ISS cargo

2012

By 2012, cargo to the International Space Station was being delivered commercially under NASA's Commercial Resupply Services by SpaceX's partially reusable Dragon spacecraft, followed by Orbital Sciences' Cygnus spacecraft in late 2013.

Image source: SpaceX Dragon

Dragon delivers commercial ISS cargo

Enterprise moved to Intrepid Museum

Apr 2012 - Jul 19, 2012

Enterprise was moved to New York City in April 2012 to be displayed at the Intrepid Museum, whose Space Shuttle Pavilion opened on July 19, 2012.

Endeavour driven through Los Angeles streets

Oct 14, 2012

On October 14, 2012, Endeavour completed an unprecedented 12-mile drive on city streets from Los Angeles International Airport to the California Science Center, where it went on display later that year in the temporary Samuel Oschin Pavilion.

Atlantis displayed at Kennedy Space Center

Jun 29, 2013

Atlantis formed part of the Space Shuttle Exhibit at the Kennedy Space Center visitor complex and has been on display there since June 29, 2013, following its refurbishment.

First operational SpaceX crew mission

Nov 15, 2020

Since the Shuttle's retirement, crew service to the ISS was provided by Russian Soyuz until SpaceX's Dragon 2 crew capsule began operations, launched on the reusable Falcon 9 rocket as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Development program. The first operational SpaceX mission launched on November 15, 2020.

Image source: SpaceX Crew-1

First operational SpaceX crew mission

Key Facts

  1. The program was officially authorized by President Richard Nixon in January 1972 and ran for nearly four decades until its retirement in 2011.
  2. Columbia's STS-1 mission on April 12, 1981 marked the first orbital flight of a reusable crewed spacecraft.
  3. A total of five operational orbiters were built: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour.
  4. The program suffered two fatal disasters: Challenger broke apart shortly after launch in January 1986, killing all seven crew members, and Columbia disintegrated during re-entry in February 2003, also killing seven astronauts.
  5. Over its lifetime, the shuttle fleet completed 135 missions, including deploying the Hubble Space Telescope and assembling major components of the International Space Station.

Source

This Space Shuttle Program timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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