When you think about the space shuttle, you probably picture that iconic white orbiter clinging to a massive orange tank, roaring off a Florida launchpad. It feels like they were going up every other week back in the day, doesn't it? But if you actually sit down and try to count how many space shuttle missions were there, the answer isn't just a single number you can throw out at a trivia night without a bit of context.
Basically, the "official" number most historians and NASA buffs use is 135.
From the first vibration of Columbia’s engines in 1981 to the final wheel stop of Atlantis in 2011, the Space Transportation System (STS) was the backbone of American access to space. But honestly, that number hides a lot of drama, some heavy heartbreak, and a few "test" flights that people often forget even happened.
The Magic Number: 135 Orbital Flights
If you're looking for the quick answer, NASA’s Space Shuttle program officially flew 135 missions.
Every single one of these launched from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. They weren't just joyrides, either. These missions did everything from launching the Hubble Space Telescope to building the International Space Station (ISS) piece by piece.
You've gotta realize that the program lasted 30 years. That’s a massive run. Within those 135 missions, we saw:
- 355 different people fly into orbit.
- Over 500 million miles traveled.
- Two tragic losses that changed the program forever.
Why the Numbering System is a Total Mess
Okay, here’s where it gets kinda weird. You’d think mission 135 would be named STS-135, and mission 50 would be STS-50, right? Nope. NASA had a brief period where they tried to get "clever" with the naming conventions, and it makes tracking the missions a bit of a headache.
Early on, it was simple: STS-1, STS-2, through STS-9. Then, for some reason, they switched to a coded system. STS-41-B, for example, wasn't the 41st mission. The "4" stood for the fiscal year (1984), the "1" was the launch site (Kennedy), and the "B" meant it was the second scheduled launch of that year.
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They eventually went back to normal numbers, but the damage to our collective sanity was done. If you ever see a list and wonder why the numbers jump around like a caffeinated kangaroo, that’s why.
Breaking Down the Fleet: Who Flew the Most?
Not all shuttles were created equal. While 135 is the total for the program, the "workhorses" of the fleet definitely carried more of the load. NASA had five space-rated orbiters, plus one that never actually touched the stars.
Discovery (OV-103)
Discovery was the absolute champion of the group. It flew 39 missions, more than any other orbiter. It was the "go-to" ship for the tough jobs, including the "Return to Flight" missions after both the Challenger and Columbia accidents.
Atlantis (OV-104)
Atlantis clocked in with 33 missions. It’s the one you can see today at the Kennedy Space Center, and it was the shuttle that closed the book on the era with mission STS-135 in July 2011.
Columbia (OV-102)
The original. The first one to ever fly in 1981. Columbia completed 28 missions before it was tragically lost during reentry in 2003. Because it was the first, it was actually a bit heavier than the others—sorta like the "heavy-duty" prototype that paved the way.
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Endeavour (OV-105)
This one was built as a replacement for Challenger. Even though it joined the party late, it managed 25 missions. It’s currently residing in Los Angeles, looking quite spectacular.
Challenger (OV-099)
Challenger was the early workhorse, flying 10 missions in just a few short years before the 1986 disaster. People forget that before the accident, Challenger was the ship that carried Sally Ride and Guion Bluford—the first American woman and the first African American in space.
The "Invisible" Missions of Enterprise
Wait, what about Enterprise? If you go to the Intrepid Museum in New York, you’ll see a shuttle named Enterprise. But if you're counting how many space shuttle missions were there, Enterprise doesn't usually make the cut.
Enterprise (OV-101) was a test vehicle. It proved the shuttle could fly through the atmosphere and land like a glider. It performed five "free flights" where it was dropped from the back of a Boeing 747. It was a crucial part of the program, but it never had engines that could get it to space. So, while it had "missions," they weren't space missions.
The Real Cost of 135 Missions
We can't talk about the number 135 without talking about the two missions that didn't come home.
STS-51-L (Challenger) and STS-107 (Columbia) are the scars on the program's history. These weren't just technical failures; they were human tragedies that cost 14 lives. Each time, the program ground to a halt for years. After Challenger, the shuttle didn't fly for 32 months. After Columbia, it was 29 months.
If those accidents hadn't happened, would there have been 150 missions? 200? Probably. The original goal of the program in the 1970s was a launch every week. Obviously, that was a pipe dream, but the 135 we got were hard-earned.
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What People Often Miss
Most people think the shuttle just went up, dropped off a satellite, and came back. But the variety of those 135 missions was staggering.
- The Spacelab Era: For 22 missions, the shuttle carried a pressurized module in its belly, turning the orbiter into a world-class science lab.
- The Mir Dockings: We actually sent shuttles to dock with the Russian Mir space station 9 times. It was a huge "peace in space" moment during the 90s.
- The ISS Heavy Lifting: 37 missions were dedicated specifically to the International Space Station. Without the shuttle's massive cargo bay and robotic arm, the ISS wouldn't exist. Period.
Why 135 is the Final Answer
Since July 21, 2011, that number hasn't changed. The program is retired. The ships are in museums. While companies like SpaceX are flying "shuttle-like" missions today with reusable boosters, they aren't part of the STS program.
So, when you're looking at the history books, 135 is the legacy. It represents three decades of human ambition, some massive mistakes, and the most complex machine humans have ever built.
Your Next Steps for Exploring the Shuttle Legacy
If you want to get closer to the reality of these 135 missions than just reading a number, here is what I’d suggest doing:
- Visit an Orbiter: Nothing puts the scale of 135 missions into perspective like standing under the belly of Atlantis (Florida), Discovery (Virginia), or Endeavour (California). You can see the actual "scars" on the heat tiles from reentry.
- Check the NASA Archives: NASA maintains a complete, searchable database of every single STS mission, including crew logs and weirdly specific details about what they ate.
- Watch the STS-135 Landing: Find the footage of the final landing. Hearing the "wheels stop" call from Houston is a genuine gut-punch for anyone who loves space history.
The shuttle era is over, but 135 missions left a footprint that we're still following as we look toward Mars.