The first experimental orbiter Enterprise was a high - altitude glider, launched from the back of a specially modified Boeing 747, only for initial atmospheric landing tests (ALT). Enterprise 's first test flight was on February 18, 1977, only five years after the Shuttle program was formally initiated; leading to the launch of the first space - worthy shuttle Columbia on April 12, 1981 on STS - 1. The Space Shuttle program finished with its last mission, STS - 135 flown by Atlantis, in July 2011, retiring the final Shuttle in the fleet. The Space Shuttle program formally ended on August 31, 2011.
the space shuttle program began with the flight of the challenger apollo mercury columbia explorer
Columbia