At the height of the Apollo Program, in 1968, NASA began drawing up plans of its next steps to further the United States’ presence in space. The goal was rapid and cheap reusability. The Apollo Program was a success, albeit extremely costly. The entire 365-foot rocket could only be used once, as the stages were expended, and the returning capsule was never designed to be reused. So, NASA began concepts of a “Space Transportation System,” which would effectively act as a space truck, shuttling large amounts of payload into orbit. The goal was to make space travel as common and simple as commercial travel. Take off, fly, land, rinse and repeat.
1968
- Initial Concept Development: NASA begins considering reusable spacecraft concepts as part of the next generation of human spaceflight.
1969
- The Space Task Group, led by Vice President Spiro Agnew, recommends the development of a reusable Space Shuttle as part of post-Apollo missions.
- Early Design Proposals: Initial designs for a partially reusable spacecraft are presented, with a focus on affordability and versatility for various missions.
1970
- Budget Constraints Shape Design: Rising costs and budget cuts forced NASA to scale back its ambitious plans for a fully reusable spacecraft. This results in the adoption of a partially reusable design with solid rocket boosters and an external fuel tank.
1971
- Contract Awards: NASA awards key contracts to major aerospace companies, including Rockwell International (prime contractor for the orbiter) and Thiokol (solid rocket boosters).
- These companies played a major role for both the Space Shuttle and NASA later on.
1972
- President Richard Nixon officially announces approval for the Space Shuttle program, commending its potential for scientific, military, and commercial uses.
1973
- Orbiter Design Finalization: The final design for the orbiter is selected, featuring delta wings, a thermal protection system, and a large payload bay.
- Much of this design was influenced by the United States military, which had its own criteria and requirements for NASA to build. This played a major role in the space race and ultimately led to the creation of the Soviet Buran Shuttle in 1988.
1974
- Construction Begins on Orbiter: Construction begins on the first orbiter, later named Enterprise.
- Early testing of thermal protection tiles, engines, and other critical systems begins.
1976
- Rollout of Enterprise: The first Space Shuttle orbiter, Enterprise, is rolled out on September 17. It was not equipped for spaceflight.
- Enterprise’s original name would be Constitution, as it was rolled out 200 years after the founding of the United States. However, this name would later be scrapped.
- The original plans for Enterprise would include refurbishing the shuttle, equipping it for spaceflight. However, this was ultimately deemed too expensive.
1977
- Approach and Landing Tests (ALT), flown by Enterprise, were tests in which the shuttle would undergo a series of atmospheric flight tests to evaluate its maneuverability and gliding capabilities. These missions would be launched from a Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft.
1979
- Assembly of Columbia Completed: The first operational orbiter, Columbia (OV-102), is assembled.
- During this time, several other orbiters are in development, including Challenger, Discovery, and Atlantis
- The installation of heat-resistant tiles on Columbia faces challenges, delaying its first flight.
1980
- Final Preparations for STS-1: Testing and integration of Columbia’s systems are completed, and final preparations for its maiden flight begin.
1981
- First Flight (STS-1): On April 12, Columbia successfully launches the first orbital flight of the Space Shuttle program, marking the beginning of operational flights. Columbia lands two days later at Edwards Air Force Base in California.
- This mission demonstrated the Space Shuttle’s capabilities, including orbital maneuvering, payload bay use, and satellite deployment, paving the way for future missions.