Discover the remarkable engineering behind the Space Shuttle and how NASA overcame the challenge of creating a spacecraft that could launch like a rocket and land like an airplane.
For decades, a reusable spacecraft was the dream of space pioneers. That dream became reality in 1981 when Space Shuttle Columbia launched into orbit after years of groundbreaking engineering, ushering in a new era of human spaceflight. Although the Shuttle program has concluded, its technological innovations and legacy continue to shape the future of space exploration.
In the Smithsonian Channel film, America’s Secret Space Heroes: Space Shuttle, viewers relive the Shuttle’s extraordinary 30-year journey—from historic achievements to tragic setbacks—through the firsthand stories of the engineers, astronauts, and visionaries who designed, built, and flew this iconic spacecraft.
This summer, audiences are invited to enjoy Free First Thursdays and complimentary screenings of fascinating Smithsonian Channel documentaries.
