A long long time ago (I couldn't remember, since I wasn't even conceptualized) a whole nation gathered around their TV-sets to watch the pinnacle of a 9-year effort, which accumulated with the first moon landing.

But even before all of that, man have always wanted to go into outer space. Staring in 1946, the USA launched the X-plane series, during which the pilots broke the sounds barrier and flew to heights of 50 miles (80 km) earning them NASA astronaut wings.
In Aug. 12 1977 the Enterprise was the first orbiter to take flight. It took-off from the back of a modified Boeing-747 cargo plane.
Later on, in 1981, the Colombia was launched as the first space shuttle orbiter, succeeded by Challenger (1983), Discovery (1984), and Atlantis (1985).
Challenger's history will be remembered for a few reasons. It was the space shuttle on which Dr. Sally Kristen Ride, an American physicist and a former NASA astronaut, first woman - both american and youngest american to enter space. Also, after 55 successful missions, in Jan. 28th 1986, 72 seconds into another launch the space shuttle blew up, taking the lives of its 7 member crew.
For the following 2.5 years, all shuttles were ground. Missions resumed in 1988 with Discovery, carrying one of the most celebrate for its fruitfulness - The Hubble space telescope.
Afterwards, in 1992 NASA launched their fifth and final space-worthy space shuttle Endeavour, a Challenger replacement.
On Feb. 1 2003, after 27 completed missions, by the end of the 28th mission, this space shuttle also had an accident. All 7 crew members died, including first Israeli astronaut Ilan Ramon.
Atlantis, launched 1985, was the last space shuttle, coming home on July 21st 2011 at 09:57 UTC.

This short history lesson is a tribute for the long and bountiful Space-Shuttle program.

Here's to hoping to be part of the space exploration history.

--Adi Mendelowitz