#SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR SIMULATOR RIDE SERIES#

In 2003, Columbia was destroyed during re-entry, leaving just three remaining orbiters. Endeavour was built as Challenger 's successor, and was first launched in 1992. In 1986, Challenger was destroyed in an accident shortly after its 10th launch. Challenger, Discovery, and Atlantis followed in 1983, 1984, and 1985 respectively. The remaining orbiters were fully operational spacecraft, and were launched vertically as part of the Space Shuttle stack.Ĭolumbia was the first space-worthy orbiter it made its inaugural flight in 1981. Enterprise was partially disassembled and retired after completion of critical testing.

#SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR SIMULATOR RIDE SERIES#

An unpowered glider, it was carried by a modified Boeing 747 airliner called the Shuttle Carrier Aircraft and released for a series of atmospheric test flights and landings. The first orbiter, Enterprise, made its maiden flight in 1977. All were built in Palmdale, California, by the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania-based Rockwell International company.

Six orbiters were built for flight: Enterprise, Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. space agency, this vehicle could carry astronauts and payloads into low Earth orbit, perform in-space operations, then re-enter the atmosphere and land as a glider, returning its crew and any on-board payload to the Earth. Operated from 1977 to 2011 by NASA, the U.S. The Space Shuttle orbiter is the spaceplane component of the Space Shuttle, a partially reusable orbital spacecraft system that was part of the discontinued Space Shuttle program. Discovery approaches the International Space Station (ISS) on STS-121

Space shuttle endeavour simulator ride