Near the end of the Apollo space program, NASA officials were looking at the future of the American space program. They were using one-shot, disposable rockets. What they needed was a reliable, less expensive rocket, perhaps one that was reusable. The idea of a reusable space shuttle that could launch like a rocket but land like an airplane was appealing and would be a great technical achievement.

NASA began design, cost, and engineering studies on a space shuttle, and many aerospace companies also explored the concepts. In 1972, President Nixon announced that NASA would develop a reusable space shuttle or space transportation system (STS). NASA decided that the shuttle would consist of an orbiter attached to solid rocket boosters and an external fuel tank and awarded the prime contract to Rockwell International.

At that time, spacecraft used heat shields that would burn away as the spacecraft reentered the Earth's atmosphere. However, to be reusable, a different strategy would have to be used. The designers of the space shuttle came up with an idea to cover the space shuttle with many insulating ceramic tiles that could absorb the heat of reentry without harming the astronauts.

Remember that the shuttle was to fly like a plane — more specifically like a glider — when it landed. A working orbiter was built to test the aerodynamic design but not to go into outer space. The orbiter was called the Enterprise after the Star Trek starship. The Enterprise flew numerous flight and landing tests, where it was launched from a Boeing 747 and glided to a landing at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

Finally, after many years of construction and testing (e.g., orbiter, main engines, external fuel tank, solid rocket boosters, etc.), the shuttle was ready to fly. Four shuttles were made (Columbia, Discovery, Atlantis, and Challenger).