Planetary Society Statement On the End of the Space Shuttle Program

Today, as the Space Shuttle Atlantis touched down and returned its crew to Earth, the 30-year-long space shuttle program came to its end.

Bill Nye, Executive Director of the Planetary Society, had this to say:

“Mission accomplished! It’s been thirty great years for the Space Shuttle program. With this venerable space vehicle retired, it’s on to the next adventure.

“The Space Shuttle has taken more than 10,400 tons into orbit, a fantastic legacy, as most of that equipment is still up there helping astronauts do their jobs. But now it’s time to move up and on — outward. We can make new discoveries peering beyond new horizons.”

The Planetary Society salutes the men and women – those in space and those on the ground – who made the Shuttle fly. Theirs is a legacy that will be remembered by people through the centuries to come, especially by those who follow the trail they have blazed into space.

The Planetary Society:

The Planetary Society has inspired millions of people to explore other worlds and seek other life. Today, its international membership makes the non-governmental Planetary Society the largest space interest group in the world. Carl Sagan, Bruce Murray and Louis Friedman founded The Planetary Society in 1980. Bill Nye, a long time member of the Planetary Society’s Board, is now the Executive Director.