The space shuttle demonstrated that a spacecraft could take off vertically and glide to an unpowered airplane-like landing, with crews of five to seven astronauts.
While the space shuttle goals of low cost and routine access to space were not met, what was officially called the Space Transportation System amassed several significant accomplishments.
Among them were more than a score of commercial satellites deployed prior to the Challenger accident in 1986; the placement in orbit of major scientific missions including Galileo, Magellan, and Chandra, the launching and servicing missions of the Hubble Space Telescope and numerous flights in support of the Mir and International Space Station.
Humanity's first attempt to build and operate a reusable spacecraft was an impressive achievement in itself.
Image: This photograph was taken from the International Space Station when Discovery was about 600 feet away from the docking station.
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