Astronomy on MSN

Jan. 16, 2003: Space Shuttle Columbia's final launch

On Jan. 16, 2003, Space Shuttle Columbia launched on its 28th mission, STS-107. NASA had five additional space shuttle ...
The Root

NASA Chief: Final Shuttle Launch Begins New Era

When the space shuttle Atlantis blasts off on Friday, it will mark the final NASA shuttle mission ever. But the shuttering of the 30-year-old program isn’t the end of American space exploration — in ...