(Michael S. Williamson / WASHINGTON POST)
The 135th and final flight of America’s space shuttle fleet ended safely, completing the three-decade lifetime of a technologically remarkable and versatile spacecraft.
Riding a column of flame and smoke, Atlantis glided skyward Friday on the last shuttle mission.
As space shuttle era ends, questions loom for a shrinking astronaut corps.
Space Camp shifts focus to the moon, Mars and asteroids as its own shuttle program winds down.
Despite an abundance of leaders in the U.S. civilian space program, leadership is still lacking.
VIDEO | This animated graphic some of the significant events of the shuttle program.
As the final U.S. shuttle launch nears, is this a distress flare for NASA?
The international space station will continue in orbit through at least 2020.
Photo Galleries
The Atlantis was the last shuttle of the space program that began in 1981.
The final shuttle launch is scheduled for July 8, but the weather may upset the timetable.
The end of NASA’s shuttle program makes way for private space companies.
Space shuttle Challenger exploded in a burst of fire 74 seconds after liftoff.
Space shuttle Discovery is poised to make its last flight.
Space Shuttle Atlantis arrived at the International Space Station for repairs.
Astronauts from the shuttle Atlantis continue to repair the Hubble Space Telescope..
Endeavour roared into orbit carrying teacher-astronaut Barbara Morgan.
Videos
Final space shuttle launch ends an era
The final flight of Atlantis will mark the end of the space shuttle era after 135 missions.
Last shuttle launch postponement likely
The last Space Shuttle launch schedule Friday morning could be postponed due to stormy weather forecast at the launch site in Florida. (July 7)
John Glenn on the future of the space program
Astronaut John Glenn, the first American to orbit the Earth, discusses the uncertain future of the U.S. space program.
Timelapse: Shuttle Atlantis rolls to launchpad
Shuttle Atlantis is now on the launch pad, in preparation for a July liftoff. This timelapse shows the 3.4 mile, 6-hour trek from Kennedy Space Center's vehicle assembly building to the launch pad in under two minutes. (June 1)
Shuttle Endeavour touches down
Shuttle Endeavour touched down safely at the Kennedy Space Center early Wednesday morning, completing its final mission to space. (June 1)
Endeavour begins final trip home
Shuttle Endeavour's six astronauts have checked the systems they need to bring NASA's next-to-last space shuttle flight to an end. (May 31)
Endeavour completes final spacewalk
NASA completed its part in the construction of the International Space Station on Friday, with the final spacewalkers in the 30-year shuttle program attaching an extension boom. (May 26)
NASA to Aid Private Spaceflight as Shuttle Era Nears End
May 16 (Bloomberg) -- NASA is exiting the low-Earth orbit business with the shuttle program's end and is turning to U.S. companies to develop vehicles to ferry people and cargo on short trips. Boeing, Sierra Nevada, Space Exploration Technologies and Blue Origin are some of the companies developing space vehicles to replace the space shuttle fleet. Megan Hughes reports on Bloomberg Television's "In The Loop with Betty Liu." (Source: Bloomberg)
Space Coast copes with end of shuttle program
Thousands will lose their jobs along Florida's Space Coast as NASA pulls the curtains on the shuttle program. (April 28)The Post Most: NationMost-viewed stories, videos and galleries int he past two hours
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