# Space Shuttle

> partially reusable launch system and space plane developed by NASA (1981–2011)

**Wikidata**: [Q48806](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q48806)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/space-shuttle

## Summary
The Space Shuttle was a partially reusable launch system and space plane developed by NASA that operated from 1981 to 2011. It was the world's first reusable spacecraft system, consisting of an orbiter vehicle, external tank, and solid rocket boosters that could carry astronauts and cargo to low Earth orbit.

## Key Facts
- First flight occurred on April 12, 1981, and the program operated for 30 years until 2011
- Height: 56.1 meters (2209 inches); Diameter: 8.7 meters (343 inches)
- Powered by 2 Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters, 3 RS-25 engines, and 2 Space Shuttle Orbital Maneuvering Systems
- Manufactured by United Space Alliance, Alliant Techsystems, Thiokol, Lockheed Martin, Martin Marietta, and Boeing
- Country of origin: United States
- Launched from Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39
- Part of the broader Space Shuttle program
- Has parts: Space Shuttle orbiter, Space Shuttle external tank, Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Booster

## FAQs
### Q: What made the Space Shuttle different from previous rockets?
A: The Space Shuttle was the world's first partially reusable launch system. Unlike expendable rockets, its orbiter vehicle and solid rocket boosters could be recovered and flown multiple times, dramatically reducing launch costs and enabling complex missions like satellite servicing and space station construction.

### Q: How long did the Space Shuttle program last?
A: The Space Shuttle program operated from April 12, 1981, through July 21, 2011 - a span of 30 years. During this time, the fleet completed 135 missions.

### Q: What were the main components of the Space Shuttle system?
A: The Space Shuttle consisted of three major components: the orbiter (the winged spacecraft that carried crew and cargo), the external tank (which held liquid fuel), and two solid rocket boosters (which provided most of the thrust during launch).

## Why It Matters
The Space Shuttle revolutionized spaceflight by proving that reusable spacecraft were technically feasible. For three decades, it served as America's primary means of accessing space, enabling unprecedented achievements like the deployment and servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope, construction of the International Space Station, and conducting countless scientific experiments in microgravity. The program demonstrated that spaceflight could become more routine, with missions launching as frequently as every few weeks at peak operations. Beyond its technical achievements, the Shuttle program inspired generations of engineers and scientists while making spaceflight more visible to the public through its distinctive winged design and dramatic launches. Though the program ended in 2011, its legacy continues through the technologies it pioneered and the infrastructure it helped build, including the International Space Station that remains operational today.

## Notable For
- First reusable spacecraft system in human history
- Deployed major space observatories including Hubble Space Telescope, Compton Gamma Ray Observatory, and Chandra X-ray Observatory
- Only spacecraft capable of carrying large construction components to build the International Space Station
- Enabled in-orbit satellite servicing missions, including multiple Hubble Space Telescope servicing missions
- Carried diverse scientific payloads including Spacelab, Spacehab modules, and numerous free-flying satellites

## Body
### Development and Design
The Space Shuttle represented a fundamental shift in space transportation philosophy. Unlike previous expendable launch vehicles, NASA designed the Shuttle as a partially reusable system intended to reduce the cost of space access. The system consisted of three main elements working together: the orbiter vehicle (a winged spacecraft that resembled an airplane), the external tank (the large orange fuel tank), and twin solid rocket boosters.

### Technical Specifications
The complete Shuttle stack stood 56.1 meters tall with a diameter of 8.7 meters. The orbiter itself measured 37.2 meters in length with a wingspan of 23.8 meters. Propulsion came from multiple sources: three RS-25 main engines on the orbiter burned liquid hydrogen and oxygen from the external tank, while two Solid Rocket Boosters provided additional thrust during the first two minutes of flight. The Orbital Maneuvering System engines allowed for precise orbital adjustments.

### Mission Capabilities
The Shuttle's 4.6-meter by 18-meter payload bay could carry up to 27,500 kilograms to low Earth orbit. This capability enabled diverse mission types: satellite deployment and retrieval, space station assembly, scientific research with pressurized modules like Spacelab and Spacehab, and servicing missions for satellites like the Hubble Space Telescope. The Shuttle could remain in orbit for up to 17 days with its Extended Duration Orbiter package.

### Fleet and Operations
NASA built five operational orbiters: Columbia (first flight 1981), Challenger (1983), Discovery (1984), Atlantis (1985), and Endeavour (1992). Challenger and Columbia were lost in accidents in 1986 and 2003 respectively. The fleet operated from Kennedy Space Center's Launch Complex 39, the same facility used for Apollo missions. Typical missions lasted 7-14 days, though some extended missions exceeded two weeks.

### Scientific Contributions
Beyond its role as a transportation system, the Shuttle served as an orbital laboratory. Spacelab modules carried European-built research facilities, while Spacehab modules provided additional pressurized space for experiments. Free-flying payloads like the Long Duration Exposure Facility studied the space environment. The Shuttle deployed numerous scientific satellites including the Ulysses solar probe, Magellan Venus mapper, and Galileo Jupiter orbiter.

### International Partnerships
The Shuttle enabled unprecedented international cooperation in space. It carried payloads from multiple nations including Germany's BremSat, Argentina's SAC-A, and various European Retrievable Carriers. The Shuttle-Mir program saw orbiters docking with Russia's Mir space station, paving the way for the International Space Station program.

## Schema Markup
```json
{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Thing",
  "name": "Space Shuttle",
  "description": "A partially reusable launch system and space plane developed by NASA that operated from 1981 to 2011",
  "sameAs": ["https://www.wikidata.org/wikiQ948135", "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_Shuttle"],
  "additionalType": "https://schema.org/Spacecraft"
}

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
2. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
3. BabelNet
4. Quora
5. National Library of Israel
6. KBpedia
7. [OpenAlex](https://docs.openalex.org/download-snapshot/snapshot-data-format)