NASA space shuttle program

presidential direction to pursue shuttle

Jan 5, 1972

citiation President Richard M. Nixon announced that NASA would proceed with the development of a reusable low cost space shuttle system. NASA announced that the shuttle would use two solid propellant space ships.

enterprise rolled out

Sep 17, 1976

citationthe first Space Shuttle Orbiter, was rolled out of Palmdale assembly facility on September 17, 1976. The shuttle was constructed without engines or a functional heat shield and was incapable of spaceflight. Starting in February, 1977, Enterprise took part in the nine month long Approach and Landing

STS-1 Mission

Apr 12, 1981

citationSTS-1 marked the first orbital flight of the Space Shuttle Program. Shuttle Columbia orbited the Earth 37 times in 54.5 hours, and successfully landed at Edwards Air Force Base.

First untethered spacewalk

Feb 3, 1984

citationMission Specialist Bruce McCangless II became the first human Earth-orbiting satellite, venturing out 320 feet (98m) from the orbiter,

first hubble servicing

Dec 2, 1993

citationastronauts completed the first servicing of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST). Repairing a problem that caused Hubble images to be blurry and unfocused, STS-61 allowed the Hubble to produce sharp and clear images.