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Space shuttle missions Space shuttle missions The origins of NASA's space shuttle program date to the late '60s, with its first successful test flights in1981. Only two more shuttle flights remain before the program ends and the era of NASA's manned space flights comes to a close for the foreseeable future. Columbia It's hard to believe, but it's the 30th anniversary of the launch of the space shuttle Columbia First launched on April 12, 1981, it flew 28 missions and spent nearly 301 days in space. It was the first of the NASA orbiter fleet, and was lost over Texas in 2003, along with its crew. Challenger Challenger soared to great triumph and great tragedy. First launched on April 4, 1983, it flew 10 missions and spent just over 62 days in space. The first woman in space  as well as the first African-American astronaut flew on Challenger.The Challenger was lost on January 28, 1986. Discovery First launched on August 30, 1984, Discovery has flown 39 miss...

History’s Biggest Mysteries History’s Biggest Mysteries The origins and meanings of some of the world’s most baffling historic places and events are the stuff of legend. Some involve theories about sorcery, alien encounters and unexplained structures. Stonehenge This huge stone monument in the English countrysidehas been puzzling people for centuries. There are working theories about why it’s circular and what it was used for. The Great Sphinx of Giza The 240-foot-long limestone statue of this mythological figure overlooks the bank of the Nile (here), but exactly when it was built and why has been up for debate. Also, where’s its nose? Lost Colony of Roanoke A group of 16th-century British settlers and their dwellings are said to have completely vanished from their early Virginia colony Easter Island Eighteenth-century Dutch explorers stumbled upon this remote South Pacific island and were stunned by the hundreds of huge stone statutes erected there .Natives died off — here’s one cause...