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Science Friday > Archives > 2001 > April > April 13, 2001:

Hour One: Space Shuttle Past and Future

April 12 was a big day in space history. 40 years ago, cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the Earth. Twenty years later, on April 12, 1981, the space shuttle Columbia blasted off on its maiden voyage from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The flight, known as STS-1 ("space transportation system flight 1") by those at the space agency, lasted for just over two days. The original idea behind the shuttle program, announced by President Nixon in 1972, was to develop a fleet of reusable space vehicles that could be frequently and inexpensively used to ferry people and materials into orbit.

The space shuttle Columbia, awaiting its first launch (NASA image.)

The first four missions of the shuttle were test flights to evaluate the craft's engineering design, thermal characteristics, and performance in space. Later, the shuttles would be used to ferry satellites into orbit and retrieve them for repair, perform science experiments, and help construct the International Space Station. However, the shuttle program never was quite as successful as had been hoped.

Many programs are in the works, looking to design the next generation of space vehicles. Some of these efforts come from within NASA, such as the Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle Program, the successor to the X-33 program. Other projects are being developed by private companies and consortiums. There's even a $10 million prize being offered to the first independent space flight to meet certain criteria.

In this hour of Science Friday, we'll take a look back at the shuttle program -- and look into the future of reusable space craft. Call in with your thoughts and comments at 1-800-989-8255, and share your opinions online in our Listeners' Lounge (registration required)

Listen to this program in RealAudio!

Guests:
Story Musgrave, M.D.
Former Shuttle Astronaut
NASA

Dan Dumbacher
Manager, Second Generation Reusable Launch Vehicle Program
NASA Marshall Space Flight Center
Huntsville, Alabama

Jim Muncy
Independent Space Policy Consultant
PoliSpace
Alexandria, Virginia

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Related Links:
NASA history office: the flight of sts-1
STS-1 PRESS KIT
Space Shuttle Mission Chronology STS-1
2nd Generation RLV - Space Transportation
Space Transportation