Feb. 1969
Project begins as part of a plan to build a large space station.
Was also seen as a way to strengthen ties within NATO.
8/11/69
NASA chief, Thomas Paine offers
to allow ESA in on the deal.
Offers technology transfers and access
by European astronauts a incentive.
Dec. 1969
Paine visits Canada to enlist their support.
Feb. and March 1970
Paine conducts negotiations w/ the Japanese.
State Dept. opposed technology transfers.
Fall of 1971
OMB chief Caspar "I sold weapons to our enemies" Wienberger
advises Nixon to support the shuttle program.
Program's main feature was to pump $$$ into
California and Texas companies that would
kick back some to Nixon campaign for reelection.
Jan. 1972
Nixon OKs the project.
Claimed it would lower cost of sending payloads into space.
Nov. 1972
U.S./Euro collaboration leads to a science
module that fits in shuttle's cargo bay.
Called Spacelab, it cost over $250 million.
4/12/81
Columbia is first shuttle to fly.
Nov. to Dec. 1993
Mission STS-9
1st Spacelab mission, and 1st non-U.S. astronaut
West Germany's Ulf Merbold go into orbit.
June, 1985
Mission STS-51G
1st French and Saudi crew members fly on Discovery.
1986
Shuttle has proven an expensive failure.
Turnaround time is several weeks instead of days.
1/28/86
Mission STS-5IL
(A.K.A. Challenger disaster.)
9/29/88
Shuttle program resumes
March, 1998
96th mission is flown.
2.3 million lbs. of cargo sent into space.
750 major payloads including, 300 NASA, 143 DOD,
106 commercial, 76 foreign and 74 educational.
Includes over 50 spacewalks. |