Editing Space Shuttle (section)

=== Retirement ===
{{Main|Space Shuttle retirement}}
[[File:STS-135 Atlantis' final tow back.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Atlantis being towed back with some workers in the front after its final landing|''Atlantis'' after its final landing, marking the end of the Space Shuttle Program]]

The Space Shuttle retirement was announced in January 2004.<ref name=jenkins2016 />{{rp|III-347}}  President [[George W. Bush]] announced his [[Vision for Space Exploration]], which called for the retirement of the Space Shuttle once it completed construction of the ISS.<ref name="vision">{{cite web
 |title = The Vision for Space Exploration
 |publisher = NASA
 |date = February 2004
 |url = https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/55583main_vision_space_exploration2.pdf
 |access-date = July 6, 2020
|archive-date = January 11, 2012
|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120111212213/http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/55583main_vision_space_exploration2.pdf
 |url-status = live
}}</ref><ref name="bush_speech">{{cite web |last=Bush |first=George W. |author-link=George W. Bush |date=January 14, 2004 |title=President Bush Announces New Vision for Space Exploration Program |url=https://history.nasa.gov/Bush%20SEP.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041018053912/https://history.nasa.gov/Bush%20SEP.htm |archive-date=October 18, 2004 |access-date=July 6, 2020 |publisher=NASA}}</ref> To ensure the ISS was properly assembled, the contributing partners determined the need for 16 remaining assembly missions in March 2006.<ref name=jenkins2016 />{{rp|III-349}} One additional Hubble Space Telescope servicing mission was approved in October 2006.<ref name=jenkins2016 />{{rp|III-352}} Originally, [[STS-134]] was to be the final Space Shuttle mission. However, the ''Columbia'' disaster resulted in additional orbiters being prepared for [[STS-3xx|launch on need]] in the event of a rescue mission. As ''Atlantis'' was prepared for the final launch-on-need mission, the decision was made in September 2010 that it would fly as [[STS-135]] with a four-person crew that could remain at the ISS in the event of an emergency.<ref name=jenkins2016 />{{rp|III-355}} STS-135 launched on July 8, 2011, and landed at the KSC on July 21, 2011, at 5:57&nbsp;a.m.&nbsp;EDT (09:57&nbsp;UTC).<ref name=jenkins2016 />{{rp|III-398}} From then until the launch of [[SpaceX Dragon 2#Crew Dragon|Crew Dragon]] Demo-2 on May 30, 2020, the US launched its astronauts aboard Russian Soyuz spacecraft.<ref name="nytimes_crewdragon">{{cite web |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=SpaceX Lifts NASA Astronauts to Orbit, Launching New Era of Spaceflight |work=The New York Times |date=May 30, 2020 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/30/science/spacex-nasa-astronauts.html |access-date=July 5, 2020 |archive-date=August 10, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200810172446/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/30/science/spacex-nasa-astronauts.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Following each orbiter's final flight, it was processed to make it safe for display. The OMS and RCS systems used presented the primary dangers due to their toxic [[hypergolic propellant]], and most of their components were permanently removed to prevent any dangerous outgassing.<ref name=jenkins2016 />{{rp|III-443}} ''Atlantis'' is on display at the [[Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex]] in Florida,<ref name=jenkins2016 />{{rp|III-456}} ''Discovery'' is on display at the [[Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center]] in Virginia,<ref name="jenkins2016" />{{rp|III-451}} ''Endeavour'' is on display at the [[California Science Center]] in Los Angeles,<ref name=jenkins2016 />{{rp|III-457}} and ''Enterprise'' is displayed at the [[Intrepid Museum|''Intrepid'' Museum]] in New York.<ref name=jenkins2016 />{{rp|III-464}} Components from the orbiters were transferred to the US Air Force, ISS program, and Russian and Canadian governments. The engines were removed to be used on the [[Space Launch System]], and spare RS-25 nozzles were attached for display purposes.<ref name=jenkins2016 />{{rp|III-445}}

For many [[Artemis program]] missions, the Space Launch System's two solid rocket boosters' engines and casings and four main engines and the [[Orion (spacecraft)|Orion spacecraft's]] main engine will all be previously flown Space Shuttle main engines, solid rocket boosters, and [[Orbital Maneuvering System]] engines. They are refurbished legacy engines from the Space Shuttle program, some of which even date back to the early 1980s. For example, [[Artemis I]] had components that flew on 83 of the 135 Space Shuttle missions. From Artemis I to [[Artemis IV]] recycled Shuttle main engines will be used before manufacturing new engines. From Artemis I to [[Artemis III]] recycled Shuttle solid rocket boosters' engines and steel casings are to be used before building new ones. From Artemis I to [[Artemis VI]] the Orion main engine will use six previously flown Space Shuttle OMS engines.<ref>http://www.collectspace.com/news/news-082422a-artemis-i-space-shuttle-hardware.html . Retrieved March 15, 2025.</ref><ref>https://www.nasa.gov/missions/artemis/orion/fired-up-engines-and-motors-put-artemis-mission-in-motion/ . Retrieved March 15, 2025.</ref><ref>https://www.nasa.gov/reference/sls-space-launch-system-solid-rocket-booster/ . Retrieved March 15, 2025.</ref>
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