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Added latest Endeavour flight and info on Space Shuttle System
The '''Space Shuttle''', officially the '''Space Transportation System''' ('''STS''') is an [[United States|American]]-built space travel vehicle, designed to be capable of multiple flights. The shuttle was developed by the [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] (NASA). Missions on the shuttle last for up to two weeks, and carry five to seven astronauts. The shuttle is the first space vehicle designed to be reusable.<ref>[http://science.howstuffworks.com/space-shuttle.htm How The Space Shuttle Works]</ref>
The '''Space Shuttle''', officially the '''Space Transportation System''' ('''STS''') is an [[United States|American]]-built space travel vehicle, designed to be capable of multiple flights. The shuttle was developed by the [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]] (NASA). Missions on the shuttle last for up to two weeks, and carry five to seven astronauts. The shuttle is the first space vehicle designed to be reusable.<ref>[http://science.howstuffworks.com/space-shuttle.htm How The Space Shuttle Works]</ref>
The Space Shuttle system consists of three components,
*two reuseable solid rocket boosters which (and will provide the main launch vehicles under the new Ares Launch program that follows the shuttle). These provide nearly 80% of the thrust at takeoff
*the rust-colored External Tank, which feeds fuel to three Space Shuttle Orbiter Main Engines
*The orbiter itself, of which there are 3. The Orbiters are reused but are extensively refurbished after each flight.
NASA intends to close out the service life of the space shuttle program by completing work on the International Space Station by 2010, then switch over to the Orion class crew transport vehicle, using tried-and-true space capsule concepts from the 1960s which are designed to emphasize crew safety.
NASA intends to close out the service life of the space shuttle program by completing work on the International Space Station by 2010, then switch over to the Orion class crew transport vehicle, using tried-and-true space capsule concepts from the 1960s which are designed to emphasize crew safety.
| Operational.
| Operational.
| May 7th, 1992
| May 7th, 1992
| December 7th, 2002
| August 21st, 2007
|}
|}