This is a list in table format of all missions flown by space shuttles
launched between 1981 and 2011. It also includes lists of the 1977
manned test flights of the shuttle orbiter and of the shuttle's unflown
rescue missions. The information displayed in the tables includes the
flight order, mission designation, launch date, length of mission,
shuttle used, number of crew members (launched/landed) and landing
site. Summary statistics for all shuttle missions are provided in separate
tables. Only the United States flew human spaceflight missions in its
Space Shuttle program, while the Soviet Union flew one unmanned
space flight of the Buran. Several European countries and Japan
were also involved in the Shuttle program through the participation of astronauts from those countries, sponsorship
of scientific experiments, and the funding, building, and organizational and scientific control of the Spacelab
module.
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-9. This scheme continued for 25 launches and 8 cancellations up to
STS-33.[2]
Subsequent to the Apollo 13 mishap, due to NASA Administrator James M. Beggs' fear of the number 13 and
consequent unwillingness to number a forthcoming flight as STS-13,[3] [4] [5] [6] beginning in 1984, each mission was
also assigned a code, such as STS-41-B, with the first digit indicating the federal fiscal year offset into the program
(so 41-B was scheduled for FY 1984, 51-L originally for FY 1985 and the third flight in FY 1995 would have been
named 151-C), the second digit indicating the launch site (1 was Kennedy Space Center and 2 was Shuttle Launch
Complex (SLC) 6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, although Vandenberg was never used), and the letter indicating
scheduling sequence. As with the sequential numbers, these codes were assigned when the launches were initially
scheduled and were not changed as missions were delayed or rescheduled.[2]
Although the codes were adopted from STS-41-B through STS-51-L the sequential numbers were used internally at
NASA on all processing paperwork. Flights were assigned with sequential numbers from STS-9 through STS-33.
With the resumption of flights in 1988, NASA restarted with STS-26R, the "reflight" suffix to disambiguate from
prior missions. This continued through STS-33R.[2]
After the Challenger disaster, a sequential numbering system only was used, with the number according to counting
from the beginning, although, unlike the initial system, the assignment of numbers was based on the initial schedule
and may not reflect launch order. The letter indicated that the intermediate numbering system applied, and 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).
launched between 1981 and 2011. It also includes lists of the 1977
manned test flights of the shuttle orbiter and of the shuttle's unflown
rescue missions. The information displayed in the tables includes the
flight order, mission designation, launch date, length of mission,
shuttle used, number of crew members (launched/landed) and landing
site. Summary statistics for all shuttle missions are provided in separate
tables. Only the United States flew human spaceflight missions in its
Space Shuttle program, while the Soviet Union flew one unmanned
space flight of the Buran. Several European countries and Japan
were also involved in the Shuttle program through the participation of astronauts from those countries, sponsorship
of scientific experiments, and the funding, building, and organizational and scientific control of the Spacelab
module.
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-9. This scheme continued for 25 launches and 8 cancellations up to
STS-33.[2]
Subsequent to the Apollo 13 mishap, due to NASA Administrator James M. Beggs' fear of the number 13 and
consequent unwillingness to number a forthcoming flight as STS-13,[3] [4] [5] [6] beginning in 1984, each mission was
also assigned a code, such as STS-41-B, with the first digit indicating the federal fiscal year offset into the program
(so 41-B was scheduled for FY 1984, 51-L originally for FY 1985 and the third flight in FY 1995 would have been
named 151-C), the second digit indicating the launch site (1 was Kennedy Space Center and 2 was Shuttle Launch
Complex (SLC) 6 at Vandenberg Air Force Base, although Vandenberg was never used), and the letter indicating
scheduling sequence. As with the sequential numbers, these codes were assigned when the launches were initially
scheduled and were not changed as missions were delayed or rescheduled.[2]
Although the codes were adopted from STS-41-B through STS-51-L the sequential numbers were used internally at
NASA on all processing paperwork. Flights were assigned with sequential numbers from STS-9 through STS-33.
With the resumption of flights in 1988, NASA restarted with STS-26R, the "reflight" suffix to disambiguate from
prior missions. This continued through STS-33R.[2]
After the Challenger disaster, a sequential numbering system only was used, with the number according to counting
from the beginning, although, unlike the initial system, the assignment of numbers was based on the initial schedule
and may not reflect launch order. The letter indicated that the intermediate numbering system applied, and 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).
Launches and Orbital flights:
Cancelled missions
One initial emergency flight abort (RTLS) 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.
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. After STS-121, the rescue flight for STS-115, if needed, would have been STS-301. After STS-115, the rescue mission designations changed again. They are now based on the corresponding regular mission that woulde 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 was 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.
One initial emergency flight abort (RTLS) 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.
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. After STS-121, the rescue flight for STS-115, if needed, would have been STS-301. After STS-115, the rescue mission designations changed again. They are now based on the corresponding regular mission that woulde 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 was 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.
Buran
Buran was a reusable spacecraft built by the Soviet space program,
similar in orbiter design to the US Space Shuttle, and intended for
manned flights in the Buran program. Buran flew one test mission,
designated 1K1, on November 15, 1988. The spacecraft was launched
unmanned from and landed at Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Kazakh
S.S.R. and flew two orbits, traveling unknown operator:
u','unknown operator: u','unknown operator: u',' (unknown
operator: u'strong'unknown operator: u','mi) in 3 hours, 25 minutes
(0.14 flight days). Buran never flew again; the Buran program was cancelled shortly after the dissolution of the
Soviet Union.In 2002, the collapse of the hangar in which it was stored destroyed the Buran orbiter.
Buran was a reusable spacecraft built by the Soviet space program,
similar in orbiter design to the US Space Shuttle, and intended for
manned flights in the Buran program. Buran flew one test mission,
designated 1K1, on November 15, 1988. The spacecraft was launched
unmanned from and landed at Baikonur Cosmodrome in the Kazakh
S.S.R. and flew two orbits, traveling unknown operator:
u','unknown operator: u','unknown operator: u',' (unknown
operator: u'strong'unknown operator: u','mi) in 3 hours, 25 minutes
(0.14 flight days). Buran never flew again; the Buran program was cancelled shortly after the dissolution of the
Soviet Union.In 2002, the collapse of the hangar in which it was stored destroyed the Buran orbiter.