The Space Shuttle Program was officially launched in 1981.It was started by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration(NASA).President Richard Nixon formed the Space Task Group(STS), which was chaired by Vice President Spiro Agnew. This group evaluated the shuttle studies, and recommended a national space strategy which included the building of the space shuttle.

Space Shuttle Program

President Nixonand NASA Administrator James Fletcher

The goal of the Space Shuttle Program was to provide an easy means of access to space that would be used by NASA, the Government, and the Air Force.The Space Shuttle was the first reusable, operational spacecraft.Space Shuttles carried payloads to low Earth orbit, such as crew and supplies for the International Space Station.

Description

Discovery in orbit

Atlantis preparing to land

The Columbia was the first fully operational orbiter, and was first launched on April 12, 1981.The Hubble Space Telescope was carried into space by Discovery on April 24, 1990.A total of 135 missions were flown, out of which only two ended in disaster.

Notable Achievements

Columbia launching

The longest shuttle mission lasted 17 days and 15 hours

The last flight of the Space Shuttle program was flown on July 8, 2011.

Atlantis in flight

Ronald Reagan began his first term as President of the United States.Iran released 44 American captives after Reagan became president, ending the Iran Hostage Crisis.President Reagan was shot, but managed to survive.Pope John Paul II is shot and nearly killed, but also survives.France abolished capitol punishment.

World Events in 1981

The hostages returning home

Space Shuttle

An animation of the process of a space shuttle, from launch to landing.

A Space Shuttles structure are primarily made from aluminum alloy, but the engine’s structure is made of titanium alloy.It’s design is similar to that of a normal airplane.

Materials and Design

A Space Shuttle drawing

Space Shuttle concepts

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_shuttle_programhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_shuttlehttp://www.liketotally80s.com/80s-capsules-1981.htmlhttp://www.answers.com/topic/iran-hostage-crisis-large-imagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1981

References