The Space Shuttle program ran from presidential approval in 1972 to its end in 2011. It was the fourth human spaceflight program carried out by the United States and NASA. The Space Shuttle, officially known as the Space Transportation System (STS), was the first reusable spacecraft to carry humans into orbit.

Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, STS-96 mission specialist, in the SpaceHab module aboard the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Discovery, 1999.

The Space Shuttle program ran from presidential approval in 1972 to its end in 2011. It was the fourth human spaceflight program carried out by the United States and NASA. The Space Shuttle, officially known as the Space Transportation System (STS), was the first reusable spacecraft to carry humans into orbit.

Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, STS-96 mission specialist, in the SpaceHab module aboard the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Discovery, 1999.

Stories

Forty Years of Discovery “General Joe”: Remembering Pilot and Astronaut Joe Engle
Bruce McCandless II: Eyes in the Sky Up To Speed Ellison Shoji Onizuka: The First Asian American in Space

Exhibitions

Learn more At Home in Space National Air and Space Museum in Washington, DC Learn more Human Spaceflight Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, VA

Learning Resources

Flight of Fancy Story Time Pre and Post Visit Materials - Dr. Mae Jemison - Spanish Packet of experiments, crafts, and activities created to help expand the topics connected to Dr. Mae Jemison and the space shuttle era. These materials are connected to Standards of Learning https://s.si.edu/MaeJemisonPreandPostVisitMaterials_es_us Grade K, Grade 1, Grade 2 Human spaceflight, African American or Black people, Space Shuttle program, Women, People

Teacher

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"What’s New in Aerospace: The Story Behind the Space Shuttle Columbia Recovery Mission (Bringing Columbia home)" Mike Leinbach will share his first–hand account of how agencies worked together to bring Columbia home and search for answers. https://youtu.be/VW-ZOv-UaLs Grades 13-14, Grades 15-16, Grades 17-20, Grade 12, Grade 11, Grade 10, Grade 9, Grade 8, Grade 6, Grade 7 Human spaceflight, Space Shuttle program

Teacher

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My Path: Dava Newman, Former Deputy Administrator for NASA Have you ever wondered how important people get to where they are? NASA's deputy director, Dava Newman, shares her path in this segment brought to you by STEM in 30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyylQhSl0IE&list=PL6RlkQnoCx_VvN6SkGaFShkAyOcNX8Rry&index=8 Grade 5, Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9 Human spaceflight, Moon (Earth), People, Science, Small solar system bodies, Solar System, Space Shuttle program, Spacecraft, Women

Student

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Smithsonian Science Starter: Building Paper Airplanes with Astronaut Gregory "Ray J" Johnson What does flying a paper airplane have to do with landing the Space Shuttle? https://youtu.be/2lVzXQElTpU Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 3, Grade 5, Grade 4 Aircraft, Technology and Engineering, Space Shuttle program

Student

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America’s First Space Walking Woman On October 11, 1984, a female American astronaut stepped outside her spacecraft for the first time. Kathryn D. “Kathy” Sullivan had work to do in the payload bay of the Space Shuttle Challenger, https://airandspace.si.edu/stories/editorial/america’s-first-spacewalking-woman-kathryn-d-sullivan Grade 6, Grade 7, Grade 8, Grade 9, Grade 5, Grade 4, Grade 3, Grade 10, Grade 11, Grade 12, Grades 13-14, Grades 15-16, Grades 17-20 Human spaceflight, Space Shuttle program, Women

Student

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Space Shuttle Discovery (Theme/Exhibit) Celebrating 34 years of Discovery https://artsandculture.google.com/project/space-shuttle-discovery Grade 10, Grade 12, Grades 13-14, Grades 15-16, Grade 11, Grade 9, Grade 8, Grades 17-20, Grade 7, Grade 6, Grade 5, Grade 4, Grade 3 Human spaceflight, Space Shuttle program

Other

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Publications

Learn more Spaceflight in the Shuttle Era and Beyond: Redefining Humanity's Purpose in Space Learn more Discovery: Champion of the Space Shuttle Fleet