The Hill News

The return of the space shuttle Discovery from its 39th and final mission was the beginning of the end of America’s space shuttle program.  Was it also the beginning of the end of America’s human exploration of space?

After three decades, the United States is retiring the shuttle fleet, which has kept busy in recent years building the $100 billion International Space Station, and taking crew and cargo back and forth to and from the station and the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.  The final mission of the Discovery completed the U.S. portion of the space station, which is the combined effort of sixteen countries.

Only two more missions remain for the shuttle fleet.  The Endeavour is due to launch from Cape Canaveral on April 19, and the Atlantis on June 28.  Discovery will now be prepared for display at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.  The other two spacecraft are likewise destined for museums.

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