why did nasa shut down the space shuttle program
Space Shuttle retirement
Two modified Boeing 747s were used to fly the shuttles back to KSC when they landed at Edwards AFB . N911NA was retired on February 8 , 2012 and is now a parts hulk for the `` SOFIA '' 747 . Beginning in September 2014 , N911NA was loaned out to the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark , in Palmdale , CA , where it is on outdoor display next to the B - 52 . The other aircraft , N905NA was used to send Discovery , Endeavour and Enterprise to their museums and in September 2012 was found to have few parts for Sofia . It is currently a museum piece at the Johnson Space Center . NASA
Two modified Boeing 747s were used to fly the shuttles back to KSC when they landed at Edwards AFB . N911NA was retired on February 8 , 2012 and is now a parts hulk for the `` SOFIA '' 747 . Beginning in September 2014 , N911NA was loaned out to the Joe Davies Heritage Airpark , in Palmdale , CA , where it is on outdoor display next to the B - 52 . The other aircraft , N905NA was used to send Discovery , Endeavour and Enterprise to their museums and in September 2012 was found to have few parts for Sofia . It is currently a museum piece at the Johnson Space Center . NASA