US Shuttle

Launched from the Kennedy Space Center at Cape Canaveral in Florida, the US Space Shuttle is the only American vehicle capable of ferrying Space Station crews back and forth into space. The Space Shuttle will also take up Space Station components and modules built by US firms and also by Japan, Canada and the European Space Agency.

Originally conceived in the 1970's as a ferry between the Earth's surface and low Earth orbit, the shuttle was first launched on April 12, 1981.  Since then it has taken many satellites, and scientific payloads into orbit, along with a crew - the maximum number of crew members is eight.

On June 29, 1995 the Space Shuttle made a rendezvous with Russia's Mir Space Station. Thus started the experience of docking the shuttle with a large structure in space, so that the Western nations can take advantage of the longer durations in space that cooperation with Russia has made possible.

After the Space Station is completed, the shuttle will continue to take people and supplies to and from the station until it is replaced by a new space transportation vehicle that is expected around the year 2010.
