THE SHUTTLE AND BEYOND

Low Earth orbit
The space shuttle was designed to operate in low Earth orbit.  Low Earth orbit ranges from right above the ground to about 1,000 miles above the Earth.
This is a region where vehicles carrying humans can operate.  The space station, for example, orbits about 220 miles above the Earth.  This is about the distance from Washington, D.C., to New York City.
In contrast, communications satellites orbit at about 22,000 miles above the Earth.  The moon is about 239,000 miles above Earth.
The Hubble orbits about 320 miles above the Earth.  The shuttle was not designed to fly much higher.
Some shuttle facts :

• The space shuttle flies about 17,500 miles per hour.  Because of the Earth's gravity, the shuttle is constantly falling toward Earth.  But it is traveling so fast that it actually travels around the Earth instead.
• The shuttle's normal orbit ranges fromabout 190 miles to 330 miles above sea level.
• The first space shuttle was the Enterprise.  It never flew above the Earth's atmosphere, but was used to test shuttle landings.
• The Enterprise was first named the Constitution, but after enthusiastic pleas from "Star Trek" fans, NASA changed the name.
• The Endeavour was the last shuttle to be built, in 1992.  It was built to replace Challenger.

Where do we go from here ?
The future of human space flight is up in the air.  Money is tight for space exploration.  No one knows where in space humans might go next.  NASA is developing a new capsule called Orion that could deliver astronauts to the space station.
Private companies are working to make space flight possible for private citizens.
No matter what programs are launched, space exploration will need all types of scientists and astronauts.  The kids of today will be the explores of tomorrow, going on our next journeys into space.