Space Shuttle — The

: Flew the final mission of the program (STS-135) in July 2011.

40 Years Ago: Space Shuttle Enterprise rolls to the Pad - NASA

The Space Shuttle, officially known as the , was the world’s first partially reusable spacecraft, operating from 1981 to 2011. Over 30 years, the program flew 135 missions , launched 355 people from 16 countries, and traveled more than 542 million miles. The Space Shuttle

: A prototype used for atmospheric flight tests; it never flew in space but is currently on display at the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. How It Worked

: The first shuttle to fly into space in 1981; tragically lost during re-entry in 2003. : Flew the final mission of the program

The Shuttle system consisted of three primary components that worked together for launch:

: Built as a replacement for Challenger, it completed 25 missions, including the first service mission for Hubble. : A prototype used for atmospheric flight tests;

Five flight-worthy orbiters were constructed for the program: