The Space Shuttle programme, developed by NASA, introduced the world’s first reusable spacecraft. Operating from 1981 to 2011, the shuttles carried out 135 missions, completing over 21,000 orbits and covering more than 542 million miles. The fleet was used to transport satellites, conduct research, support space station assembly, and enable spacewalks.&nbsp;&nbsp;<h2>Evolution of the Space Shuttle Fleet</h2>NASA built five operational orbiters: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. Each measured 37.2 metres in length, had a wingspan of 23.8 metres, and launch mass ranging between 104 and 109 tonnes. A sixth shuttle, Enterprise, was used only for test flights and did not go into orbit. The Soviet-built Buran orbiter, measuring 36.4 metres long and weighing 105 tonnes, flew a single automated mission in 1988 and remains one of the largest spacecraft constructed outside the United States.&nbsp;Columbia, launched in April 1981, was NASA’s first operational orbiter. It was also the heaviest, weighing 109 tonnes due to early design elements and limited ISS compatibility. It deployed key payloads like the Chandra X-ray Observatory. It was tragically lost in 2003 during re-entry after sustaining wing damage from launch debris. Astronaut Kalpana Chawla was among those lost in the Columbia disaster.&nbsp;Challenger entered service in 1983 and conducted several pioneering missions, including the deployment of the first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite. It also hosted the first spacewalk by a US woman. On January 28, 1986, Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff, following a booster failure. All seven crew members were lost.&nbsp;Discovery, arriving in 1983, became NASA’s most flown orbiter with 39 missions. It deployed the Hubble Space Telescope and played a vital role in ISS construction. Lighter than Columbia, Discovery incorporated improved thermal protection and structure refinements. It retired in 2011 after completing the final shuttle flight to the ISS.&nbsp;Atlantis, which joined the fleet in 1985, completed 33 missions and was instrumental in both ISS assembly and the Shuttle-Mir programme, becoming the first shuttle to dock with a Russian space station. Its construction was completed faster and with fewer resources than Columbia.&nbsp;&nbsp;Endeavour, commissioned in 1991 to replace Challenger, carried out 25 missions. Its notable flights included satellite repairs and spacewalks, including a record-setting eight-hour EVA. It also introduced new technical features, such as the use of a drag chute on landing.&nbsp;The Buran orbiter, developed by the Soviet Union, was similar in design and size to the American shuttle. It completed its only mission without a crew in 1988, operating entirely on automated systems. Though the programme was cancelled, Buran demonstrated comparable capabilities in terms of payload and flight systems, adding to the global legacy of reusable spacecraft.&nbsp;NASA's Space Shuttle programme officially ended in 2011, after 30 years of service. The final mission, STS-135, was flown by Atlantis and concluded on 21 July 2011. Since then, the shuttle fleet—Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour—has been retired. &nbsp;

NASA's Space Shuttle programme officially ended in 2011, after 30 years of service. The final mission, STS-135, was flown by Atlantis and concluded on 21 July 2011. 

The Space Shuttle programme, developed by NASA, introduced the world’s first reusable spacecraft. Operating from 1981 to 2011, the shuttles carried out 135 missions, completing over 21,000 orbits and covering more than 542 million miles. The fleet was used to transport satellites, conduct research, support space station assembly, and enable spacewalks. Evolution of the Space Shuttle Fleet NASA built five operational orbiters: Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour. Each measured 37.2 metres in length, had a wingspan of 23.8 metres, and launch mass ranging between 104 and 109 tonnes. A sixth shuttle, Enterprise, was used only for test flights and did not go into orbit. The Soviet-built Buran orbiter, measuring 36.4 metres long and weighing 105 tonnes, flew a single automated mission in 1988 and remains one of the largest spacecraft constructed outside the United States. Columbia, launched in April 1981, was NASA’s first operational orbiter. It was also the heaviest, weighing 109 tonnes due to early design elements and limited ISS compatibility. It deployed key payloads like the Chandra X-ray Observatory. It was tragically lost in 2003 during re-entry after sustaining wing damage from launch debris. Astronaut Kalpana Chawla was among those lost in the Columbia disaster. Challenger entered service in 1983 and conducted several pioneering missions, including the deployment of the first Tracking and Data Relay Satellite. It also hosted the first spacewalk by a US woman. On January 28, 1986, Challenger broke apart 73 seconds after liftoff, following a booster failure. All seven crew members were lost. Discovery, arriving in 1983, became NASA’s most flown orbiter with 39 missions. It deployed the Hubble Space Telescope and played a vital role in ISS construction. Lighter than Columbia, Discovery incorporated improved thermal protection and structure refinements. It retired in 2011 after completing the final shuttle flight to the ISS. Atlantis, which joined the fleet in 1985, completed 33 missions and was instrumental in both ISS assembly and the Shuttle-Mir programme, becoming the first shuttle to dock with a Russian space station. Its construction was completed faster and with fewer resources than Columbia. Endeavour, commissioned in 1991 to replace Challenger, carried out 25 missions. Its notable flights included satellite repairs and spacewalks, including a record-setting eight-hour EVA. It also introduced new technical features, such as the use of a drag chute on landing. The Buran orbiter, developed by the Soviet Union, was similar in design and size to the American shuttle. It completed its only mission without a crew in 1988, operating entirely on automated systems. Though the programme was cancelled, Buran demonstrated comparable capabilities in terms of payload and flight systems, adding to the global legacy of reusable spacecraft. NASA's Space Shuttle programme officially ended in 2011, after 30 years of service. The final mission, STS-135, was flown by Atlantis and concluded on 21 July 2011. Since then, the shuttle fleet—Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis, and Endeavour—has been retired.

NASA's Space Shuttle programme officially ended in 2011, after 30 years of service. The final mission, STS-135, was flown by Atlantis and concluded on 21 July 2011.&nbsp;

From Columbia to Discovery: The five largest NASA space shuttles in history

The leader of Thailand's reformist Move Forward Party (MFP), Pita Limjaroenrat, whose party clinched maximum seats in the national elections held in the country in May, submitted his resignation as the party leader on Friday (September 15). 
 
The Move Forward Party (MFP) was led to the top spot in the elections by the young challenger, capitalising on a number of voters who were disenchanted by the junta-backed rule which continued for a decade, before the conservatives blocked him and he was suspended as an MP. 
 
The MFP ended its partnership with opposition rivals Pheu Thai Party, after which it formed a coalition government with pro-military parties, and stated that they would go into opposition.

ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/thailands-economy-shows-little-signs-of-recovery-despite-increasing-tourism-630078">Thailand’s economy shows little signs of recovery, despite increasing tourism&nbsp;</a>

"I resigned as the MFP's party leader to pave the way for an MP that is able to have a voice in parliament, be the opposition leader," wrote Pita, on his official Facebook page. As per the current rules, the leader of the opposition must remain as an MP. 
 
"Due to my MP suspension, I won't be able to get my MP position and be opposition leader in the near future," Pita stated. 
 
In July, Pita was suspended while he was waiting for the ruling of the Constitutional Court over his ownership of shares in a media company, which is now defunct. 
 
As per the Constitution of Thailand, MPs are not allowed to own media shares. Emphasising the importance of the role, Pita said that it was like "the prow (of a ship) that determines the direction of the opposition". 
 
"There will need to be a party general meeting to vote for the new leader," said MFP lawmaker Rangsiman Rome, while speaking to AFP.

WATCH |&nbsp;Thailand gets its 30th Prime Minister as Srettha Thavisin elected as new PM

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/thailand-gets-its-30th-prime-minister-as-srettha-thavisin-elected-as-new-pm-628021/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<h2>Numerous legal and political challenges against Pita</h2>

A number of legal and political challenges were thrown against the 43-year-old since the shock success of MFP in the May polls. 
 
He left the race for the premiership after his first bid faltered because of the junta-appointed Senate, and the parliamentarians denied him a second chance. 
 
The Constitutional Court, outside the parliament, is considering a second case which alleges that the campaign of MFP which promised to amend the royal defamation law of Thailand is equivalent to the the scheme of overthrowing the monarchy. 
 
In his Facebook post, Pita said that he would remain closely involved, "no matter his role". 
 
Appealing to supporters to gather in central Bangkok on September 24, he stated that he would continue working with the MFP "so that we could achieve something together".

(With inputs from agencies)

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The leader of Thailand's reformist Move Forward Party (MFP), Pita Limjaroenrat, whose party clinched maximum seats in the national elections held in the country in May, submitted his resignation as the party leader on Friday (September 15).

The leader of Thailand's reformist Move Forward Party (MFP), Pita Limjaroenrat, whose party clinched maximum seats in the national elections held in the country in May, submitted his resignation as the party leader on Friday (September 15). The Move Forward Party (MFP) was led to the top spot in the elections by the young challenger, capitalising on a number of voters who were disenchanted by the junta-backed rule which continued for a decade, before the conservatives blocked him and he was suspended as an MP. The MFP ended its partnership with opposition rivals Pheu Thai Party, after which it formed a coalition government with pro-military parties, and stated that they would go into opposition. ALSO READ | Thailand’s economy shows little signs of recovery, despite increasing tourism "I resigned as the MFP's party leader to pave the way for an MP that is able to have a voice in parliament, be the opposition leader," wrote Pita, on his official Facebook page. As per the current rules, the leader of the opposition must remain as an MP. "Due to my MP suspension, I won't be able to get my MP position and be opposition leader in the near future," Pita stated. In July, Pita was suspended while he was waiting for the ruling of the Constitutional Court over his ownership of shares in a media company, which is now defunct. As per the Constitution of Thailand, MPs are not allowed to own media shares. Emphasising the importance of the role, Pita said that it was like "the prow (of a ship) that determines the direction of the opposition". "There will need to be a party general meeting to vote for the new leader," said MFP lawmaker Rangsiman Rome, while speaking to AFP. WATCH | Thailand gets its 30th Prime Minister as Srettha Thavisin elected as new PM Numerous legal and political challenges against Pita A number of legal and political challenges were thrown against the 43-year-old since the shock success of MFP in the May polls. He left the race for the premiership after his first bid faltered because of the junta-appointed Senate, and the parliamentarians denied him a second chance. The Constitutional Court, outside the parliament, is considering a second case which alleges that the campaign of MFP which promised to amend the royal defamation law of Thailand is equivalent to the the scheme of overthrowing the monarchy. In his Facebook post, Pita said that he would remain closely involved, "no matter his role". Appealing to supporters to gather in central Bangkok on September 24, he stated that he would continue working with the MFP "so that we could achieve something together". (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Thailand’s blocked PM challenger Pita Limjaroenrat resigns as party leader

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