The world watched in awe as the last ever NASA space shuttle
took off. This video shows the final trip for one of mankind's
greatest achievements.
On 8 July 2011, the space shuttle Atlantic blasted off for the
last time, 30 years and 3 months after the very first shuttle
flight. Over the past 30 years, space shuttles have been at the
forefront of NASA's space programme.
What's next for space flight?
NASA doesn't have a replacement for the space shuttle. They are
relying on Russian space craft to take American astronauts to the
International Space Station (ISS). In future, NASA plans to give
the job of flying astronauts to the ISS to private companies. One
day, these private companies could be flying you to space too!
Virgin Galactic is already taking
bookings for tourists who want to go into space, but it costs a
whopping $200,000. Eventually though, prices might come down as
equipment and space technology becomes cheaper. Once upon a time
travelling to America was only possible for the super rich - now
lots of people go there on holiday every year. Maybe one day
travelling to the moon will be just like flying to America.
Drawing of Virgin Galactic's
SpaceShipTwo (c) Virgin
Galactic
The end of the space shuttle doesn't mean the end of NASA, or
even of NASA sending humans into space. NASA is focussing its
resources on building a new spacecraft that can take humans further
than ever before, with the ultimate goal of landing on Mars. The Orion
Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle will take humans out of Earth's
orbit and possibly beyond the moon.
Drawing of the Orion spacecraft
landing (c) NASA
NASA are also working on some technologies that sound more like
science fiction than science fact - refuelling depots in space,
solar propulsion and life-support systems to take astronauts on
missions that could last years.
As well as working on how to send humans even further into
space, NASA are working on unmanned spacecraft. On July 16 the
spacecraft Dawn will begin a year-long visit to
the large asteroid Vesta to help us understand the beginning of our
solar system. In August, the Juno spacecraft will
set off for Jupiter to investigate its origins, structure and
atmosphere. These unmanned spacecraft will help us understand more
about our solar system and could provide useful information for
future human exploration of space.
Although the end of the space shuttles marks the end of an era,
it's not over for NASA. Their vital research will continue to shape
space exploration for the next century.