Each of the shuttles was specially equipped for such functions, most notably with a large cargo bay and a robotic manipulator arm. Astronauts performed a variety of tasks aloft, including satellite repair and construction of the International Space Station.
Kennedy Space Center, a typical space shuttle mission lasted ten days to two weeks and included a full schedule of scientific experiments and technological maintenance.
The craft's aerodynamic winged shape allowed it to descend through the atmosphere and touch down on a runway, much like a commercial airplane.Īfter liftoff from Florida's John F. Unlike the much smaller capsules of the Apollo era, which launched on the tips of rockets and splashed back into the ocean, the jetliner-size shuttle was designed to streak into space using powerful boosters and return to solid ground as a glider. NASA's space shuttle was unlike any other spacecraft built during the 30 years the program was in operation. While in orbit, the space shuttle circled the planet at some 17,500 miles (28,000 kilometers) an hour, which means that the crew could see a sunrise or sunset every 45 minutes. The craft’s aerodynamic winged shape allowed it to descend through the atmosphere and touch down on a runway, much like a commercial airplane.