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Wikipedia / List of Space Shuttle missions

The Space Shuttle was a partially reusable low Earth orbital spacecraft system operated by NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration). Its official program name was Space Transportation System (STS), taken from a 1969 plan for a system of reusable spacecraft of which it was the only item funded for development. Operational missions launched numerous satellites, conducted science experiments in orbit, and participated in construction and servicing of the International Space Station (ISS). The first of four orbital test flights occurred in 1981, leading to operational flights beginning in 1982.

From 1981 to 2011 a total of 135 missions were flown, all launched from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. During that time period the fleet logged 1,322 days, 19 hours, 21 minutes and 23 seconds of flight time. The longest orbital flight of the Shuttle was STS-80 at 17 days 15 hours, while the shortest flight was STS-51-L at one minute 13 seconds when the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart during launch. The cold morning shrank an O-ring on the right solid rocket booster causing the external fuel tank to explode. The shuttles docked with Russian space station Mir nine times and visited the ISS thirty-seven times. The highest altitude (apogee) achieved by the shuttle was when deploying the Hubble Space Telescope. The program flew a total of 355 people representing 16 countries, and with 852 total shuttle fliers. The Kennedy Space Center served as the landing site for 78 missions, while 54 missions landed at Edwards Air Force Base in California and one mission landed at White Sands, New Mexico.

The first orbiter built, Enterprise, was used for atmospheric flight tests (ALT) but future plans to upgrade it to orbital capability were ultimately canceled. Four fully operational orbiters were initially built: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, and Atlantis. Challenger and Columbia were destroyed in mission accidents in 1986 and 2003 respectively, killing a total of fourteen astronauts. A fifth operational orbiter, Endeavour, was built in 1991 to replace Challenger. The Space Shuttle was retired from service upon the conclusion of STS-135 by Atlantis on 21 July 2011.

Flight numbering

The U.S. Space Shuttle program was officially referred to as the Space Transportation System (STS). Specific shuttle missions were therefore designated with the prefix "STS". Initially, the launches were given sequential numbers indicating order of launch, such as STS-7. Subsequent to the Apollo 13 mishap, due to Administrator of NASA James M. Beggs's triskaidekaphobia and consequent unwillingness to number a forthcoming flight as STS-13, beginning in 1984, each mission was assigned a code, such as STS-41-B, with the first digit (or pair of digits for years 1990 and beyond) indicating the federal fiscal year offset into the program (so 41-B was scheduled for FY 1984, 51-A through 51-L originally for FY 1985, and the third flight in FY 1985 would have been named 51-C), the second digit indicating the launch site (1 was Kennedy Space Center and 2 was Space Launch Complex 6 at 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. The codes were adopted from STS-41-B through STS-51-L (although the highest code used was actually STS-61-C), and the sequential numbers were used internally at NASA on all processing paperwork.

After the Challenger disaster, NASA returned to using a sequential numbering system, with the number counting from the beginning of the STS program. Unlike the initial system, however, the numbers were assigned based on the initial mission schedule, and did not always reflect actual launch order. This numbering scheme started at 26, with the first flight as STS-26R—the R suffix stood for "reflight" to disambiguate from prior missions. The suffix was used for two years through STS-33R, then the R was dropped. As a result of the changes in systems, flights under different numbering systems could have the same number with one having a letter appended, e.g. flight STS-51 (a mission carried out by Discovery in 1993) was many years after STS-51-A (Discovery's second flight in 1984). It wasn't until STS-127 in 2009 where the flight numbering system returned to a standard and consistent order.

Shuttle flights

Atmospheric flight tests

The Approach and Landing Test program encompassed 16 separate tests of Enterprise, covering taxi tests, uncrewed and crewed flights on the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), and finally the free flight tests. The following list includes the free-flight tests, durations listed count only the orbiter free-flight time. The list does not include total time aloft along with airborne time atop of the SCA.

Order

Launch date

Mission

Shuttle

Crew

Duration

Landing site

Notes

1

12 August 1977

ALT-12

Enterprise

2

00 h 05 m

Edwards

2

13 September 1977

ALT-13

Enterprise

2

00 h 05 m

Edwards

  • Second free flight

3

23 September 1977

ALT-14

Enterprise

2

00 h 05 m

Edwards

  • Third free flight

4

12 October 1977

ALT-15

Enterprise

2

00 h 02 m

Edwards

  • Fourth free flight

  • First flight without tailcone (operational configuration)

5

26 October 1977

ALT-16

Enterprise

2

00 h 02 m

Edwards

  • Final free flight

  • Final non-captive flight of Enterprise

  • First landing on runway rather than lakebed

Launches and orbital flights

Order

Launch date

Mission

Shuttle

Crew

Duration

Launch pad

Landing site

Notes

1

12:00:04UTC07:00:04EST

STS-1

Columbia

2

02d 06h

LC-39A

Edwards

  • First orbital flight test

  • First reusable orbital spacecraft flight

  • Maiden flight of Columbia

  • Maiden flight of the Space Shuttle program

2

15:10:00UTC10:10:00EST

STS-2

Columbia

2

02d 06h

LC-39A

Edwards

  • Second orbital flight test

  • First reuse of a crewed orbital space vehicle

  • First test of Canadarm robot arm

  • Truncated due to fuel cell problem

  • Shortest orbital mission flown

3

16:00:00UTC11:00:00EST

STS-3

Columbia

2

08d 00h

LC-39A

White Sands

4

15:00:00UTC11:00:00EDT

STS-4

Columbia

2

07d 01h

LC-39A

Edwards

5

12:19:00UTC07:19:00EST

STS-5

Columbia

4

05d 02h

LC-39A

Edwards

6

18:30:00UTC13:30:00EST

STS-6

Challenger

4

05d 00h

LC-39A

Edwards

7

11:33:00UTC07:33:00EDT

STS-7

Challenger

5

06d 02h

LC-39A

Edwards

8

06:32:00UTC02:32:00EDT

STS-8

Challenger

5

06d 01h

LC-39A

Edwards

  • Comsat deployment

  • First flight of an African American in space, Guion Bluford

  • Test of robot arm on heavy payloads with Payload Flight Test Article

  • First night launch

  • First night landing

9

16:00:00UTC11:00:00EST

STS-9

Columbia

6

10d 07h

LC-39A

Edwards

10

13:00:00UTC08:00:00EST

STS-41-B

Challenger

5

07d 23h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

11

13:58:00UTC08:58:00EST

STS-41-C

Challenger

5

06d 23h

LC-39A

Edwards

12

12:41:50UTC08:41:50EDT

STS-41-D

Discovery

6

06d 00h

LC-39A

Edwards

13

11:03:00UTC07:03:00EDT

STS-41-G

Challenger

7

08d 05h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

14

12:15:00UTC07:15:00EST

STS-51-A

Discovery

5

07d 23h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

  • Multiple comsat deployments

  • First mother in space, Anna Lee Fisher

  • Retrieval of two other comsats (Palapa B2 and Westar VI), which were subsequently refurbished on Earth and reflown

15

19:50:00UTC14:50:00EST

STS-51-C

Discovery

5

03d 01h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

16

13:59:05UTC08:59:05EST

STS-51-D

Discovery

7

06d 23h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

17

16:02:18UTC12:02:18EDT

STS-51-B

Challenger

7

07d 00h

LC-39A

Edwards

  • First mission with Spacelab module in a fully operational configuration

  • Conducted experiments in microgravity

  • First African-American Space Shuttle pilot, Frederick D. Gregory

18

11:33:00UTC07:33:00EDT

STS-51-G

Discovery

7

07d 01h

LC-39A

Edwards

19

22:00:00UTC18:00:00EDT

STS-51-F

Challenger

7

07d 22h

LC-39A

Edwards

  • Spacelab mission

  • Abort to Orbit. Faulty temperature sensor incorrectly indicated that fuel turbine discharge temperature exceeded the limit. Therefore, one main engine was shut down at T+345 s, resulting in a much lower orbit than planned.

  • All mission objectives achieved

20

10:58:01UTC06:58:01EDT

STS-51-I

Discovery

5

07d 02h

LC-39A

Edwards

21

15:15:30UTC11:15:30EDT

STS-51-J

Atlantis

5

04d 01h

LC-39A

Edwards

22

17:00:00UTC12:00:00EST

STS-61-A

Challenger

8

07d 00h

LC-39A

Edwards

23

24:29:00UTC19:29:00EST

STS-61-B

Atlantis

7

06d 21h

LC-39A

Edwards

24

11:55:00UTC06:55:00EST

STS-61-C

Columbia

7

06d 02h

LC-39A

Edwards

25

16:38:00UTC11:38:00EST

STS-51-L

Challenger

7

01m 13s

LC-39B

26

15:37:00UTC11:37:00EDT

STS-26

Discovery

5

04d 01h

LC-39B

Edwards

  • Second total and first successful launch from LC-39B

  • Tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS-C) deployment

  • First post-Challenger flight

  • First Space Shuttle mission with an all-veteran crew

27

14:30:34UTC09:30:34EST

STS-27

Atlantis

5

04d 09h

LC-39B

Edwards

28

14:57:00UTC09:57:00EST

STS-29

Discovery

5

04d 23h

LC-39B

Edwards

  • Tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS-D) deployment

  • IMAX camera

  • Space Station Heat Pipe Advanced Radiator Element I space station radiator experiment

29

18:46:59UTC14:46:59EDT

STS-30

Atlantis

5

04d 00h

LC-39B

Edwards

  • Magellan Venus probe deployment

  • First post-Challenger flight to carry a female astronaut

30

12:37:00UTC08:37:00EDT

STS-28

Columbia

5

05d 01h

LC-39B

Edwards

31

16:53:40UTC12:53:40EDT

STS-34

Atlantis

5

04d 23h

LC-39B

Edwards

  • Galileo Jupiter probe deployment

  • First post-Challenger flight to have a first-time woman astronaut, Ellen S. Baker

  • First time since the Challenger disaster with two women astronauts, Baker and Shannon Lucid

  • IMAX camera

32

24:23:30UTC19:23:30EST

STS-33

Discovery

5

05d 00h

LC-39B

Edwards

33

12:35:00UTC07:35:00EST

STS-32

Columbia

5

10d 21h

LC-39A

Edwards

34

07:50:22UTC02:50:22EST

STS-36

Atlantis

5

04d 10h

LC-39A

Edwards

35

12:33:51UTC08:33:51EDT

STS-31

Discovery

5

05d 01h

LC-39B

Edwards

36

11:47:15UTC07:47:15EDT

STS-41

Discovery

5

04d 02h

LC-39B

Edwards

37

23:48:15UTC18:48:15EST

STS-38

Atlantis

5

04d 21h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

  • Seventh classified DoD mission

  • Likely SDS2-2 deployed

38

06:49:01UTC01:49:01EST

STS-35

Columbia

7

08d 23h

LC-39B

Edwards

  • Use of ASTRO-1 observatory

  • First post-Challenger mission to have a crew of 7

  • First time since the Challenger disaster to have two payload specialists, Samuel T. Durrance and Ronald A. Parise

39

14:22:45UTC09:22:45EST

STS-37

Atlantis

5

05d 23h

LC-39B

Edwards

40

11:33:14UTC07:33:14EDT

STS-39

Discovery

7

08d 07h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

  • First unclassified DoD mission (eighth DoD mission overall)

  • Military science experiments

41

13:24:51UTC09:24:51EDT

STS-40

Columbia

7

09d 02h

LC-39B

Edwards

  • Spacelab mission

  • First space mission with three women

42

15:02:00UTC11:02:00EDT

STS-43

Atlantis

5

08d 21h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

  • Tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS-E) deployment

  • First woman in space thrice, Shannon Lucid

43

23:11:04UTC19:11:04EDT

STS-48

Discovery

5

05d 08h

LC-39A

Edwards

44

23:44:00UTC18:44:00EST

STS-44

Atlantis

6

06d 22h

LC-39A

Edwards

  • Second unclassified DoD mission (ninth DoD mission overall)

  • DSP satellite deployment

45

14:52:33UTC09:52:33EST

STS-42

Discovery

7

08d 01h

LC-39A

Edwards

46

13:13:40UTC08:13:40EST

STS-45

Atlantis

7

08d 22h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

47

23:40:00UTC19:40:00EDT

STS-49

Endeavour

7

08d 21h

LC-39B

Edwards

48

16:12:23UTC12:12:23EDT

STS-50

Columbia

7

13d 19h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

49

13:56:48UTC09:56:48EDT

STS-46

Atlantis

7

07d 23h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

50

14:23:00UTC10:23:00EDT

STS-47

Endeavour

7

07d 22h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

51

17:09:39UTC13:09:39EDT

STS-52

Columbia

6

09d 20h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

  • LAGEOS II deployment

  • Microgravity experiments

52

13:24:00UTC08:24:00EST

STS-53

Discovery

5

07d 07h

LC-39A

Edwards

  • Partially classified 10th and final DoD mission

  • Likely deployment of SDS2 satellite

53

13:59:30UTC08:59:30EST

STS-54

Endeavour

5

05d 23h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

  • Tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS-F) deployment

54

05:29:00UTC01:29:00EDT

STS-56

Discovery

5

09d 06h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

  • ATLAS-2 science platform

55

14:50:00UTC10:50:00EDT

STS-55

Columbia

7

09d 23h

LC-39A

Edwards

56

13:07:22UTC09:07:22EDT

STS-57

Endeavour

6

09d 23h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

57

11:45:00UTC07:45:00EDT

STS-51

Discovery

5

09d 20h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

  • ACTS satellite deployed

  • Orbiting Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer with IMAX camera deployed

  • First night landing at Kennedy Space Center

58

14:53:10UTC10:53:10EDT

STS-58

Columbia

7

14d 00h

LC-39B

Edwards

59

09:27:00UTC04:27:00EST

STS-61

Endeavour

7

10d 19h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

60

12:10:00UTC07:10:00EST

STS-60

Discovery

6

07d 06h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

61

13:53:00UTC08:53:00EST

STS-62

Columbia

5

13d 23h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

  • Microgravity experiments

62

11:05:00UTC07:05:00EDT

STS-59

Endeavour

6

11d 05h

LC-39A

Edwards

  • Experiments aboard Shuttle Radar Laboratory-1

63

04:43:00UTC00:43:00EDT

STS-65

Columbia

7

14d 17h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

64

22:22:05UTC18:22:05EDT

STS-64

Discovery

6

10d 22h

LC-39B

Edwards

  • Multiple science experiments

  • SPARTAN

65

11:16:00UTC07:16:00EDT

STS-68

Endeavour

6

11d 05h

LC-39A

Edwards

  • Experiments aboard Space Radar Laboratory-2

66

16:59:43UTC11:59:43EST

STS-66

Atlantis

6

10d 22h

LC-39B

Edwards

  • ATLAS-3 science platform

67

05:22:04UTC00:22:04EST

STS-63

Discovery

6

08d 06h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

68

06:38:13UTC01:38:13EST

STS-67

Endeavour

7

16d 15h

LC-39A

Edwards

  • ASTRO-2 Deployment

69

19:32:19UTC15:32:19EDT

STS-71

Atlantis

7/8

09d 19h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

  • First Shuttle-Mir docking

70

13:41:55UTC09:41:55EDT

STS-70

Discovery

5

08d 22h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

  • Tracking and data relay satellite (TDRS-G) deployment

71

15:09:00UTC11:09:00EDT

STS-69

Endeavour

5

10d 20h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

72

13:53:00UTC09:53:00EDT

STS-73

Columbia

7

15d 21h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

73

12:30:43UTC07:30:43EST

STS-74

Atlantis

5

08d 04h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

  • Second Shuttle-Mir docking

  • Delivered docking module

  • Delivered IMAX cargo bay camera

74

09:41:00UTC04:41:00EST

STS-72

Endeavour

6

08d 22h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

75

20:18:00UTC15:18:00EST

STS-75

Columbia

7

15d 17h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

  • Tethered satellite reflight, lost due to broken tether

76

08:13:04UTC03:13:04EST

STS-76

Atlantis

6/5

09d 05h

LC-39B

Edwards

  • Shuttle-Mir docking

  • First woman in space on a fifth time, Shannon Lucid (during launch)

77

10:30:00UTC06:30:00EDT

STS-77

Endeavour

6

10d 00h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

78

14:49:00UTC10:49:00EDT

STS-78

Columbia

7

16d 21h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

79

08:54:49UTC04:54:49EDT

STS-79

Atlantis

6/6

10d 03h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

  • Shuttle-Mir docking

  • First woman in space on a fifth time, Shannon Lucid (during landing)

80

19:55:47UTC14:55:47EST

STS-80

Columbia

5

17d 15h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

  • Wake Shield Facility

  • Orbiting and Retrievable Far and Extreme Ultraviolet Spectrometer-Shuttle Pallet Satellite (ORFEUS) II

  • Longest Space Shuttle mission flown

  • Story Musgrave becomes the only astronaut to fly on all five Space Shuttle orbiters

81

09:27:23UTC04:27:23EST

STS-81

Atlantis

6/6

10d 04h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

  • Shuttle-Mir docking

82

08:55:17UTC03:55:17EST

STS-82

Discovery

7

09d 23h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

83

19:20:32UTC14:20:32EST

STS-83

Columbia

7

03d 23h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

84

08:07:48UTC04:07:48EDT

STS-84

Atlantis

7/7

09d 05h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

85

18:02:00UTC14:02:00EDT

STS-94

Columbia

7

15d 16h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

86

14:41:00UTC10:41:00EDT

STS-85

Discovery

6

11d 20h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

  • Deployed and retrieved Cryogenic Infrared Spectrometers and Telescopes for the Atmosphere-Shuttle Pallet Satellite-2 (CRISTA-SPAS)

87

14:34:19UTC10:34:19EDT

STS-86

Atlantis

7/7

10d 19h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

  • Shuttle-Mir docking

88

19:46:00UTC14:46:00EST

STS-87

Columbia

6

15d 16h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

89

02:48:15UTC21:48:15EST

STS-89

Endeavour

7/7

08d 19h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

  • Shuttle-Mir docking

90

18:19:00UTC14:19:00EDT

STS-90

Columbia

7

15d 21h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

91

22:06:24UTC18:06:24EDT

STS-91

Discovery

6/7

09d 19h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

  • Last Shuttle-Mir docking

92

19:19:34UTC14:19:34EST

STS-95

Discovery

7

08d 21h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

93

08:35:34UTC03:35:34EST

STS-88

Endeavour

6

11d 19h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

94

10:49:42UTC06:49:42EDT

STS-96

Discovery

7

09d 19h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

95

04:31:00UTC00:31:00EDT

STS-93

Columbia

5

04d 22h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

96

00:50:00UTC19:50:00EST

STS-103

Discovery

7

07d 23h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

97

16:43:40UTC12:43:40EDT

STS-99

Endeavour

6

11d 05h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

98

10:11:10UTC06:11:10EDT

STS-101

Atlantis

7

09d 21h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

99

12:45:47UTC08:45:47EDT

STS-106

Atlantis

7

11d 19h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

100

23:17:00UTC18:17:00EST

STS-92

Discovery

7

12d 21h

LC-39A

Edwards

101

03:06:01UTC22:06:01EST

STS-97

Endeavour

5

10d 19h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

102

23:13:02UTC18:13:02EST

STS-98

Atlantis

5

12d 21h

LC-39A

Edwards

103

11:42:09UTC06:42:09EST

STS-102

Discovery

7/7

12d 19h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

  • ISS supply and crew rotation

104

18:40:42UTC14:40:42EDT

STS-100

Endeavour

7

11d 21h

LC-39A

Edwards

105

09:03:59UTC05:03:59EDT

STS-104

Atlantis

5

12d 18h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

106

21:10:14UTC17:10:14EDT

STS-105

Discovery

7/7

11d 21h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

  • ISS supply and crew rotation

107

22:19:28UTC17:19:28EST

STS-108

Endeavour

7/7

11d 19h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

  • ISS supply and crew rotation

108

11:22:02UTC06:22:02EST

STS-109

Columbia

7

10d 22h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

109

20:44:19UTC16:44:19EDT

STS-110

Atlantis

7

10d 19h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

110

21:22:49UTC17:22:49EDT

STS-111

Endeavour

7/7

13d 20h

LC-39A

Edwards

111

19:45:51UTC15:45:51EDT

STS-112

Atlantis

6

10d 19h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

112

00:49:47UTC19:49:47EST

STS-113

Endeavour

7/7

13d 18h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

113

15:39:00UTC10:39:00EST

STS-107

Columbia

7

15d 22h

LC-39A

114

14:39:00UTC10:39:00EDT

STS-114

Discovery

7

13d 21h

LC-39B

Edwards

115

18:37:55UTC14:37:55EDT

STS-121

Discovery

7/6

12d 18h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

116

15:14:55UTC11:14:55EDT

STS-115

Atlantis

6

11d 19h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

117

24:47:35UTC20:47:35EDT

STS-116

Discovery

7/7

12d 21h

LC-39B

Kennedy SLF

118

23:38:04UTC19:38:04EDT

STS-117

Atlantis

7/7

13d 20h

LC-39A

Edwards

119

22:36:42UTC18:36:42EDT

STS-118

Endeavour

7

12d 18h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

120

15:38:19UTC11:38:19EDT

STS-120

Discovery

7/7

15d 02h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

121

19:45:30UTC14:45:30EST

STS-122

Atlantis

7/7

12d 18h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

122

06:28:14UTC02:28:14EDT

STS-123

Endeavour

7/7

15d 18h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

123

21:02:12UTC17:02:12EDT

STS-124

Discovery

7/7

13d 18h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

124

24:55:39UTC19:55:39EST

STS-126

Endeavour

7/7

15d 20h

LC-39A

Edwards

125

23:43:44UTC19:43:44EDT

STS-119

Discovery

7/7

12d 19h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

126

18:01:56UTC14:01:56EDT

STS-125

Atlantis

7

12d 21h

LC-39A

Edwards

127

22:03:10UTC18:03:10EDT

STS-127

Endeavour

7/7

15d 16h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

  • ISS assembly flight 2J/A: Japanese Experiment Module Exposed Facility (EF) and ELM ES

128

03:59:37UTC23:59:37EDT

STS-128

Discovery

7/7

13d 21h

LC-39A

Edwards

129

19:28:01UTC14:28:01EST

STS-129

Atlantis

6/7

10d 19h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

130

09:14:07UTC04:14:07EST

STS-130

Endeavour

6

13d 18h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

131

10:21:25UTC06:21:25EDT

STS-131

Discovery

7

15d 03h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

  • ISS assembly flight 19A: Utility and Logistics Flight 4: Multi-Purpose Logistics Module Leonardo

  • Last night launch of the Shuttle Program

  • Final Space Shuttle mission with rookie astronauts

  • Final Space Shuttle mission with a crew of 7

132

18:20:09UTC14:20:09EDT

STS-132

Atlantis

6

11d 18h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

133

21:53:24UTC16:53:24EST

STS-133

Discovery

6

12d 19h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

134

12:56:28UTC08:56:28EDT

STS-134

Endeavour

6

15d 18h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

135

15:29:04UTC11:29:04EDT

STS-135

Atlantis

4

12d 18h

LC-39A

Kennedy SLF

Shuttle missions

Canceled missions

One initial RTLS abort sub-orbital test mission was canceled due to high risk. Many other planned missions were canceled due to the late development of the shuttle, and the Challenger and Columbia disasters.

Four missions were cut short by a day or more while in orbit: STS-2 (equipment failure), STS-35 (weather), STS-44 (equipment failure), and STS-83 (equipment failure, relaunched as STS-94).

Contingency missions

STS-300 was the designation for the Space Shuttle Launch on Need (LON) missions to be launched on short notice for STS-114 and STS-121, in the event that the shuttle became disabled or damaged and could not safely return to Earth. The rescue flight for STS-115, if needed, would have been STS-301. After STS-115, the rescue mission designations were based on the corresponding regular mission that would be replaced should the rescue mission be needed. For example, the STS-116 rescue mission was branded STS-317, because the normal mission scheduled after STS-116 was STS-117. Should the rescue mission have been needed, the crew and vehicle for STS-117 would assume the rescue mission profile and become STS-317. All potential rescue missions were to be launched with a crew of four, and would return with ten or eleven crew members, depending on the number of crew launched on the rescued shuttle. Missions were expected to last approximately eleven days. None of the planned contingency missions were ever flown.

No contingency mission was planned for STS-135, the final shuttle mission. Instead, NASA planned to effect any required rescues one-by-one, using Russian Soyuz spacecraft.

Flight

Rescue flight

STS-114 (Discovery)

STS-300 (Atlantis)

STS-121 (Discovery)

STS-300 (Atlantis)

STS-115 (Atlantis)

STS-301 (Discovery)

STS-116 (Discovery)

STS-317 (Atlantis)

STS-117 (Atlantis)

STS-318 (Endeavour)

STS-118 (Endeavour)

STS-322 (Discovery)

STS-120 (Discovery)

STS-320 (Atlantis)

STS-122 (Atlantis)

STS-323 (Discovery)

STS-123 (Endeavour)

STS-324 (Discovery)

STS-124 (Discovery)

STS-326 (Endeavour)

STS-125 (Atlantis)

STS-400 (Endeavour)

STS-134 (Endeavour)

STS-335 (Atlantis)

Flight statistics

Orbiters

Flights

Timeline of missions

See also

Notes

References

Bibliography