Page "Space Shuttle program" Paragraph 1

The Shuttle is the only winged manned spacecraft to have achieved orbit and land, and the only reusable space vehicle that has ever made multiple flights into orbit ( though winged, the Russian shuttle Buran made only one unmanned spaceflight ).

Its missions involved carrying large payloads to various orbits ( including segments to be added to the International Space Station ), provided crew rotation for the International Space Station, and performing service missions.

The orbiter also recovered satellites and other payloads ( e. g. from the ISS ) from orbit and returned them to Earth, though its use in this capacity was rare.

Each vehicle was designed with a projected lifespan of 100 launches, or 10 years ' operational life.