Star Points for April 2010 by Curtis Roelle Space Shuttle Fleet In 2004 President George W. Bush announced a new vision for space exploration. It included development of new space vehicles and rockets under the "Constellation" program for returning man to the moon by 2020. By 2030 the first humans would be walking on Mars. The ambitious plan also included completion of the International Space Station (ISS) and retirement of the space shuttle fleet in 2010, after nearly 30 years of service. In early 2010, President Barak Obama announced a change in plans. The Constellation program was to be canceled, and chances of a 2020 lunar return along with it. About the only thing in common with the Bush plan was the space shuttle was being retired, as planned. Yet America is being left with no known replacement for the space shuttle. Without an extension of the program, the last space shuttle mission will fly before the end of this year. This seems like a good time to review the space transportation vehicles comprising the shuttle fleet. The Enterprise (OV-101) is a space shuttle test vehicle named after the starship in the popular 1960s TV series. In 1977 Enterprise flew 17 missions lofted on the back of a modified Boeing 747 in NASA's Approach and Landing Test program. Two crews, commanded by Joe Engle and Apollo 13 astronaut Fred Haise, made the flights. On the final five missions Enterprise separated from the 747 and was piloted to a landing. Although not designed for space flight, Enterprise was assigned a serial number in the fleet. It is currently on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center near Dulles Airport in Chantilly, Virginia. Columbia (OV-102) was the first operational shuttle orbiter and was launched 29 years ago this month, in 1981. Its first commander was John Young, making his first space flight since walking on the moon 19 years before in 1972. He has been the only astronaut to fly in the US Gemini, Apollo, and space shuttle programs. During re-entry on its 28th flight, February 1, 2003, Columbia disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana, killing all of its seven member crew. The final resting place for the 84,000 pieces of recovered wreckage is at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Challenger (OV-99) was the second orbiter in the fleet, first launched in 1983. On its tenth mission, in January, 1986, Challenger and her seven member crew was lost in an explosion during launch. One of the astronauts aboard was Sharon Crista McAuliffe, the first teacher in space. It was the first in-flight space disaster for the US space program coming after nearly 22 years of manned flights. Challenger's final resting place is in two Minuteman Missile silos at launch Complex 31 at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) next to the Kennedy Space Center. Discovery (OV-103) is the longest serving shuttle and, according to current plans, will be the last to fly on what should be its 39th mission – the most of any other shuttle orbiter. Discovery's maiden voyage was in 1984 and it was the first space shuttle launch I saw in person. I watched with co- workers from a causeway at the nearby Cape Canaveral Air Force Station. Discovery launched the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and participated in two of its servicing missions. Eventually, Discovery will replace Enterprise at the Udvar-Hazy Center. Discovery is currently scheduled to launch April 5th on a mission to the ISS. Follow its progress on SpaceFlightNow.com. Atlantis (OV-104) was the last planned orbiter in the space shuttle fleet, first flying into space in 1985 on a Department of Defense mission. It has been a workhorse for the past 25 years and has supported missions to HST and ISS. Its 32nd and final mission is tentatively scheduled for liftoff on May 14. Not part of the original planned fleet, Endeavour (OV-105) was a replacement for Challenger and was first launched in 1992. Endeavour's 25th mission, anticipated to be its final one, is currently scheduled to lift off on July 29. Currently there is discussion in congress about extending the shuttle missions until a replacement vehicle is found. There is also talk of reviving the Constellation program. The overall budget situation remains fluid. However, if all goes according to plan, the space shuttle program ends this year after 134 launches from NASA's moon port launch Complex 39 at Cape Canaveral, in Florida. Early in the program the Air Force was building a launch complex for the space shuttle at Vandenberg Air Force Base. Those plans were canceled following loss of the Challenger.