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The shuttle is officially referred to in NASA jargon as the Space Transportation System (STS). Specific shuttle missions are therefore designated with the prefix STS. Initially, the launches were given sequential numbers indicating order of launch, such as STS-9. Beginning in 1984, each mission was assigned a code, such as STS-41-B, with the first digit indicating the last digit of the federal fiscal year, the second digit indicating the launch site (1 was Kennedy Space Center and 2 was Vandenberg Air Force Base, although Vandenberg was never used), and the letter indicating scheduling sequence. These codes were assigned when the launches were initially scheduled and were not changed as missions were delayed or rescheduled. After the Challenger disaster, a sequential numbering system was restored, with the number according to counting from the beginning, although, unlike the initial system, the assignment of numbers is based on the initial schedule and may not reflect launch order. The letter indicates that the intermediate numbering system applies, and e.g. flight STS-51 was many years after STS-51-A.
As of 2004, the last flight was STS-107, the 113th, including the one which consisted of a disastrous ascent only.
| Shuttle | Flight Days | Orbits | Distance -mi- | Distance -km- | Flights | Longest flight -days- | Crew and passengers | EVAs | Mir/ISS docking |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AtlantisThe Shuttle Orbiter Atlantis (Designation: Orbital Vehicle 104, or OV-104) is one of five NASA space shuttles. It was the fourth shuttle built and as of 2004 is one of the three shuttles remaining in the fleet. The Atlantis was named in honor of the first | 220.40 | 3,468 | 89,908,732 | 144,694,078 | 26 | 12.89 | 161 | 21 | 7 / 6 |
| ChallengerShuttle Orbiter Challenger ( NASA Designation: OV-99) was a Space Shuttle orbiter. Challenger was the second shuttle orbiter to be placed into service (after Columbia and was constructed using a body frame (STA-099) that had initially been produced for us | 62.41 | 995 | 25,803,940 | 41,527,416 | 10 | 8.23 | 60 | 6 | 0 / 0 |
| ColumbiaShuttle Orbiter Columbia (NASA Designation: OV-102 was the first space shuttle in NASA's orbital fleet, first flying mission STS-1 from April 12 to April 14, 1981. It was lost with all crew when it disintegrated during re-entry on its 28th mission, STS-10 | 300.74 | 4,808 | 125,204,911 | 201,497,772 | 28 | 17.66 | 160 | 7 | 0 / 0 |
| DiscoveryShuttle Orbiter Discovery (NASA Designation: OV-103) is a NASA Space Shuttle. First flown on August 30, 1984, Discovery is the third operational shuttle (excluding test shuttle Enterprise'), and the oldest remaining in service. The orbiter is still operat | 241.95 | 3,808 | 98,710,673 | 158,859,430 | 30 | 12.91 | 185 | 25 | 1 / 4 |
| EndeavourShuttle Orbiter Endeavour (Designation: Orbital Vehicle 105, or OV-105) is the fifth and most recent NASA space shuttle to be built. Construction of Endeavour began in 1987 to replace the Challenger which was lost in an accident in 1986. Structural spares | 206.60 | 3,259 | 85,072,077 | 136,910,237 | 19 | 13.86 | 130 | 29 | 1 / 6 |
| Total | 1,032.10 | 16,338 | 424,700,332 | 683,488,932 | 113 | 17.66 (STS-80) | 696 | 88 | 9 / 16 |
| Buran 1.01 | 0.14 | 2 | 51,764 | 83,307 | 1 | 0.14 | 0 | 0 | 0 / 0 |
| Date | Mission | Agency | Vehicle | Launch Site | Landing Site | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| April 12April 12 is the 102nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (103rd in leap years). There are 263 days remaining. Events 467 Anthemius is elevated to Emperor of the Western Roman Empire 1204 The Fourth Crusade sacks Constantinople 1606 The Union Jack i 1981Events January-February January Sarawak Chamber found January 1 Greece enters the EEC January 1 Palau becomes self-governing January 4 Sheffield police arrests Peter Sutcliffe, the Yorkshire Ripper January 16 Protestant gunmen shoot and wound Bernadette D | STS-1Mission Insignia Mission Statistics Mission:STS-1 Shuttle: Columbia Launch Pad: 39A Launch: April 12, 19816:00:03 a. CST (12:00:03 UTC) Landing: April 14, 198112:20:57 p. CST (18:20:57 UTC) Edwards AFB, Runway 23 Duration: 2 days, 6 hours,20 minutes, 53 s | NASA | Columbia | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | First reusable spacecraft flight |
| November 12 1981 | STS-2 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Truncated due to fuel cell problem |
| March 22 1982 | STS-3 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39A | White Sands | Shuttle R&D flight |
| June 27 1982 | STS-4 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Last shuttle R&D flight |
| November 11 1982 | STS-5 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Multiple comsat launches |
| April 4, 1983 | STS-6 | NASA | Challenger | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | TDRS launch |
| June 18, 1983 | STS-7 | NASA | Challenger | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Multiple comsat launches |
| August 30, 1983 | STS-8 | NASA | Challenger | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Comsat launch |
| November 28, 1983 | STS-9 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Spacelab mission |
| February 3, 1984 | STS-41-B | NASA | Challenger | LC-39A | Kennedy | Comsat launches, first untethered spacewalk |
| April 6, 1984 | STS-41-C | NASA | Challenger | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Solar Max servicing, LDEF launch |
| August 30, 1984 | STS-41-D | NASA | Discovery | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Multiple comsat launches |
| October 5, 1984 | STS-41-G | NASA | Challenger | LC-39A | Kennedy | Earth Radiation Budget Satellite launch |
| November 8, 1984 | STS-51-A | NASA | Discovery | LC-39A | Kennedy | Multiple comsat launches |
| January 25, 1985 | STS-51-C | NASA | Discovery | LC-39A | Kennedy | Magnum satellite launch |
| April 12, 1985 | STS-51-D | NASA | Discovery | LC-39A | Kennedy | Multiple comsat launches |
| April 29, 1985 | STS-51-B | NASA | Challenger | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Spacelab mission |
| June 17, 1985 | STS-51-G | NASA | Discovery | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Multiple comsat launches |
| July 29, 1985 | STS-51-F | NASA | Challenger | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Spacelab mission |
| August 27, 1985 | STS-51-I | NASA | Discovery | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Multiple comsat launches |
| October 3, 1985 | STS-51-J | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | DSCS satellite launch |
| October 30, 1985 | STS-61-A | NASA | Challenger | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Spacelab mission |
| November 26, 1985 | STS-61-B | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Multiple comsat launches |
| January 12, 1986 | STS-61-C | NASA | Columbia | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Comsat launch |
| January 28, 1986 | STS-51-L | NASA | Challenger | LC-39B | N/A | Planned TDRS launch, loss of vehicle |
| September 29, 1988 | STS-26 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39B | Edwards AFB | TDRS launch |
| November 15, 1988 | 1K1 | USSR | Buran 1.01 | Site 112 | Baikonur | Unmanned test flight |
| December 2, 1988 | STS-27 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39B | Edwards AFB | Lacrosse 1 launch |
| March 13, 1989 | STS-29 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39B | Edwards AFB | TDRS launch |
| May 4, 1989 | STS-30 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39B | Edwards AFB | Magellan Venus probe launch |
| August 8, 1989 | STS-28 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39B | Edwards AFB | Satellite Data System launch |
| October 18, 1989 | STS-34 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39B | Edwards AFB | Galileo Jupiter probe launch |
| November 22, 1989 | STS-33 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39B | Edwards AFB | Magnum satellite launch |
| January 9, 1990 | STS-32 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | SYNCOM IV-F5 satellite launch |
| February 28, 1990 | STS-36 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | KH-11 satellite launch |
| April 24, 1990 | STS-31 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39B | Edwards AFB | Hubble Space Telescope launch |
| October 6, 1990 | STS-41 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39B | Edwards AFB | Ulysses solar probe launch |
| November 15, 1990 | STS-38 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39A | Kennedy | Magnum satellite launch |
| December 2, 1990 | STS-35 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39B | Edwards AFB | Use of ASTRO-1 observatory |
| April 5, 1991 | STS-37 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39B | Edwards AFB | Compton Gamma Ray Observatory launch |
| April 28, 1991 | STS-39 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39A | Kennedy | First unclassified DoD mission |
| June 5, 1991 | STS-40 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39B | Edwards AFB | Spacelab mission |
| August 2, 1991 | STS-43 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39A | Kennedy | TDRS launch |
| September 12, 1991 | STS-48 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite launch |
| November 24, 1991 | STS-44 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39B | Edwards AFB | DSP satellite launch |
| January 22, 1992 | STS-42 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Spacelab mission |
| March 24, 1992 | STS-45 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39A | Kennedy | ATLAS-1 science platform |
| May 7, 1992 | STS-49 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39B | Edwards AFB | Intelsat VI repair |
| June 25, 1992 | STS-50 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39A | Kennedy | Spacelab mission |
| July 31, 1992 | STS-46 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39B | Kennedy | Attempted tethered satellite deployment |
| September 12, 1992 | STS-47 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39B | Kennedy | Spacelab mission |
| October 22, 1992 | STS-52 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39B | Kennedy | LAGEOS II, microgravity experiments |
| December 2, 1992 | STS-53 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Classified DoD satellite launch |
| January 13, 1993 | STS-54 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39B | Kennedy | TDRS launch |
| April 8, 1993 | STS-56 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39B | Kennedy | ATLAS-2 science platform |
| April 26, 1993 | STS-55 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Spacelab mission |
| June 21, 1993 | STS-57 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39B | Kennedy | SPACEHAB, EURECA |
| September 12, 1993 | STS-51 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39B | Kennedy | ACTS satellite launched |
| October 18, 1993 | STS-58 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39B | Edwards AFB | Spacelab mission |
| December 2, 1993 | STS-61 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39B | Kennedy | Hubble Space Telescope servicing |
| February 3, 1994 | STS-60 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39A | Kennedy | SPACEHAB, Wake Shield Facility |
| March 4, 1994 | STS-62 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39B | Kennedy | Microgravity experiments |
| April 9, 1994 | STS-59 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39A | Kennedy | Space Radar Laboratory-1 |
| July 8, 1994 | STS-65 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39A | Kennedy | Spacelab mission |
| September 9, 1994 | STS-64 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39B | Edwards AFB | Multiple science experiments; SPARTAN |
| September 30, 1994 | STS-68 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | Space Radar Laboratory-2 |
| November 3, 1994 | STS-66 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39B | Edwards AFB | ATLAS-3 science platform |
| February 3, 1995 | STS-63 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39B | Kennedy | Mir flyaround |
| March 2, 1995 | STS-67 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | ASTRO-2 |
| June 27, 1995 | STS-71 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39A | Kennedy | First Shuttle- Mir docking |
| June 13, 1995 | STS-70 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39B | Kennedy | TDRS launch |
| September 7, 1995 | STS-69 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39A | Kennedy | Wake Shield Facility, SPARTAN |
| October 20, 1995 | STS-73 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39B | Kennedy | Spacelab mission |
| November 12, 1995 | STS-74 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39A | Kennedy | Shuttle-Mir docking |
| January 11, 1996 | STS-72 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39B | Kennedy | Retrieved Japan's Space Flyer Unit |
| February 22, 1996 | STS-75 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39B | Kennedy | Tethered satellite |
| March 22, 1996 | STS-76 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39B | Kennedy | Shuttle-Mir docking |
| May 19, 1996 | STS-77 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39B | Kennedy | SPACEHAB; SPARTAN |
| June 20, 1996 | STS-78 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39B | Kennedy | Spacelab mission |
| September 16, 1996 | STS-79 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39A | Kennedy | Shuttle-Mir docking |
| November 19, 1996 | STS-80 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39B | Kennedy | Wake Shield Facility; ASTRO-SPAS |
| January 12, 1997 | STS-81 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39B | Kennedy | Shuttle-Mir docking |
| February 11, 1997 | STS-82 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39A | Kennedy | Hubble Space Telescope servicing |
| April 4, 1997 | STS-83 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39A | Kennedy | Truncated due to fuel cell problem |
| May 15, 1997 | STS-84 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39A | Kennedy | Shuttle-Mir docking |
| July 1, 1997 | STS-94 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39A | Kennedy | Spacelab mission |
| August 7, 1997 | STS-85 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39A | Kennedy | CRISTA-SPAS |
| September 25, 1997 | STS-86 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39A | Kennedy | Shuttle-Mir docking |
| November 19, 1997 | STS-87 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39B | Kennedy | Microgravity experiments |
| January 22, 1998 | STS-89 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39A | Kennedy | Shuttle-Mir docking |
| April 17, 1998 | STS-90 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39B | Kennedy | Spacelab mission |
| June 2, 1998 | STS-91 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39A | Kennedy | Shuttle-Mir docking |
| October 29, 1998 | STS-95 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39B | Kennedy | SPACEHAB; John Glenn flies again |
| December 4, 1998 | STS-88 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39A | Kennedy | First ISS assembly flight: Node 1 |
| May 27, 1999 | STS-96 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39B | Kennedy | ISS supply |
| July 23, 1999 | STS-93 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39B | Kennedy | Chandra X-Ray Observatory launch |
| December 19, 1999 | STS-103 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39B | Kennedy | Hubble Space Telescope servicing |
| February 11, 2000 | STS-99 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39A | Kennedy | Shuttle Radar Topography Mission |
| May 19, 2000 | STS-101 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39A | Kennedy | ISS supply |
| September 8, 2000 | STS-106 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39B | Kennedy | ISS supply |
| October 11, 2000 | STS-92 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | ISS assembly: Z1 truss |
| November 30, 2000 | STS-97 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39B | Kennedy | ISS assembly: solar arrays, radiators |
| February 7, 2001 | STS-98 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | ISS assembly: Destiny lab |
| March 8, 2001 | STS-102 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39B | Kennedy | ISS supply, crew rotation |
| April 19, 2001 | STS-100 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | ISS assembly: robotic arm |
| July 12, 2001 | STS-104 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39B | Kennedy | ISS assembly: airlock |
| August 10, 2001 | STS-105 | NASA | Discovery | LC-39A | Kennedy | ISS supply, crew rotation |
| December 5, 2001 | STS-108 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39B | Kennedy | ISS supply |
| March 1, 2002 | STS-109 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39A | Kennedy | Hubble Space Telescope servicing |
| April 8, 2002 | STS-110 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39B | Kennedy | ISS assembly: S0 truss, Mobile Transporter |
| June 5, 2002 | STS-111 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39A | Edwards AFB | ISS supply, crew rotation |
| October 7, 2002 | STS-112 | NASA | Atlantis | LC-39B | Kennedy | ISS assembly: S1 truss |
| November 23, 2002 | STS-113 | NASA | Endeavour | LC-39A | Kennedy | ISS assembly: P1 truss, crew rotation |
| January 16, 2003 | STS-107 | NASA | Columbia | LC-39A | N/A | Loss of vehicle |
| Pending | STS-114 | NASA | Discovery | Planned return-to-flight, ETA spring, 2005 | ||
| Pending | STS-121 | NASA | TBD | ISS supply, crew rotation | ||
| Pending | STS-115 | NASA | TBD | ISS assembly: P3/P4 truss, solar arrays | ||
| Pending | STS-116 | NASA | TBD |