Where's the brake? Amazing pictures show what life is like at the controls of a space shuttle Pictures taken inside the flight deck of Discovery, Endeavour and Atlantis All three were part of NASA's 30 year Space Shuttle Programme The shuttles were retired from service back in 2011 It's been the dream of millions of youngsters over the decades to sit in the cockpit of a NASA shuttle and take the controls while exploring the darkest depths of space. But judging by the vast array of gadgets and buttons in these pictures of some of the agency's flagship spacecraft, it's little wonder that so few gained the know-how to make that dream a reality. These pictures give a rare insight into what life at the controls of NASA's three surviving shuttles, Endeavour, Discovery and Atlantis, was like. The photos were taken by photographer Ben Cooper. Out of this world: Fascinating new photos give an insight into the vast array of buttons and gadgets which face astronauts in the cockpit of a space shuttle Not built for comfort: Flight deck chairs for two astronauts look less than homely Complex: With the vast array of buttons in the craft's flight deck, it's little wonder that most people don't have the know how or get the opportunity to go into space Exterior: The Endeavour sits ready to launch at Cape Canaveral in 2011 All three spacecraft were part of NASA's Space Shuttle Programme which launched in 1981. In all the programme's five shuttles - Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour -- flew 135 missions, helped construct the International Space Station and inspired generations. The Challenger was destroyed in an accident after take off in 1986 killing all seven crew members, while the Columbia broke up when re-entering the atmosphere on a mission in 2003 also killing seven astronauts. The Discovery was the first of the three remaining shuttles to be retired in March 2011, almost 27 years after it was initially launched in August 1984. High tech: A vast section of screens show the status of all the key components of the shuttle Buttons galore: Mission operations and controls are on the left of the flight deck while payload controls are on the right Impressive: The photos were taken by Ben Cooper who was given a rare glimpse inside some of NASA's flagship shuttles It flew more missions than any other shuttle, completing 39 flights safely in 27 years, spending the equivalent of almost a full year in space. The Discovery flew the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit and now sits on display at the National Air and Space Museum in the US. Space Shuttle Endeavour was launched in May 1992 and taken out of service in May 2011. Explanation: A NASA diagram which shows some what some of the controls do It was commissioned to replace the destroyed Challenger craft and named Endeavour after Captain James Cook's ship following a national schools competition. The final shuttle to be retired was Atlantis which launched in October 1985 and landed for the final time in July 2011. Atlantis orbited the Earth 4,848 times and travelled a staggering 126million miles - the equivalent of the distance between the Moon and Earth 525 times over. Uncomfortable: The interior of the shuttle shows that life in space is a less than comfortable ride Dismantled: The mid-deck of the shuttle has lost many of its lockers and storage facilities Consigned to history: The Endeavour was powered up for the last time ever just a few weeks after these pictured were taken Countdown to retirement: Space shuttle Discovery lifts off from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, in February 2011 VIDEO NASA take you inside Atlantis (even driving it down the testing track)