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The
Space Shuttle made its debut in 1981 as the U.S. launch vehicle
for human spaceflight in Earth orbit. During its design, construction,
and early operation, the Space Shuttle was intended to be an economical
replacement for expendable launch vehicles that are used only once.
It is the world's first re-flyable spacecraft.
The
Space Shuttle was developed for a variety of purposes: satellite
delivery and retrieval, orbital servicing, round-trip service for
science instruments, and laboratory research in space. The military,
commercial, and scientific communities have used the Shuttle for
their projects in space.
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