The Space Shuttle embodies the hope of commonplace space travel, originating in 1968 and concluding in 2011. Despite its beauty and design, it experienced two major disasters indicating safety oversights. The Shuttle played a vital role in space exploration and contributed to establishing a permanent space presence. Upon retirement, many museums competed for the remaining Shuttle artifacts, leading to selections based on historical importance. Houston, home to Johnson Space Center, was notably not selected and remains resentful over this decision.
The Shuttle did provide the freight and manpower for the first tentative steps toward a permanent spacefaring presence, and all the science that came with it.
Twenty-one museums and institutions vied for the right to house one of the four surviving craft, with NASA making selections based on historical significance.
Houston, home of the Johnson Space Center, has been 'Mission Control' for every single NASA human spaceflight since the Gemini Program.
The Shuttle represents an era of optimism for space travel, characterized by its beautiful design and its profound achievements and tragedies.
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