NASA's space shuttles flew 135 missions in 30 years, from the first launch on April 12, 1981, to the final landing on July 21, 2011.

NASA's space shuttle fleet flew 135 missions between April 12, 1981, and July 21, 2011.

Starting with Columbia and continuing with Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour, the shuttle fleet flew for 30 years, NASA says. The shuttles carried people into orbit repeatedly, launched, recovered and repaired satellites, conducted research and helped construct the International Space Station.

The final mission, STS-135, ended on July 21, 2011, when Atlantis rolled to a stop at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.