“On the 30th anniversary of the space shuttle’s first launch, the Coalition for Space Exploration congratulates NASA and the thousands of dedicated professionals who have been responsible for its remarkable achievements over the past three decades.
From the extraordinary first mission of STS-1, launching Astronauts John Young and Bob Crippen into the history books, the space shuttles have carried 335 American heroes to space while pushing the boundaries of human knowledge and technical achievement to unprecedented heights.
The space shuttle revolutionized space flight, and opened an unprecedented era of broad international cooperation in space. The International Space Station now circles the Earth as a powerful legacy to the contributions and service of the entire space shuttle team.
Today, as the United States prepares to embark on a new era of human space exploration, the space shuttle stands as a unique achievement in the history of spaceflight and we salute those who dedicated their lives to make the dream come alive.”
Glenn Mahone, Chairman
Coalition for Space Exploration
