Shuttles
The project of NASA, shuttles are focused from the second half of the 70s. And in 1985, they were built four Space Shuttle. Their main advantage was the possibility of re-use.
Shuttles were also used for purely military purposes, but their scientific contribution was very important.
Columbia: It was the first-emitted shuttle into orbit. His first mission lasted 12 to 14 in 1981. It was destroyed Feb. 1, 2003 while returning from its 28th mission, all seven astronauts aboard died.
Bane: morning, February 1, 2003 entered the shuttle into the atmosphere šestnáctidenní mission. A few minutes before landing, but at a height of 63 km at Texas disintegrated.
NASA engineers later found that during launch from the external fuel tank tore off a piece of shell that damaged the shuttle's wing. When you return prolétáním atmosphere into a hole in the wing got the hot air and so disrupted the wing structure causing the disintegration of the space shuttle.
Shuttle flights were suspended and therefore the resumed only in 2005 with the space shuttle Discovery.
