<P> The first experimental orbiter Enterprise was a high - altitude glider , launched from the back of a specially modified Boeing 747 , only for initial atmospheric landing tests ( ALT ) . Enterprise 's first test flight was on February 18 , 1977 , only five years after the Shuttle program was formally initiated ; leading to the launch of the first space - worthy shuttle Columbia on April 12 , 1981 on STS - 1 . The Space Shuttle program finished with its last mission , STS - 135 flown by Atlantis , in July 2011 , retiring the final Shuttle in the fleet . The Space Shuttle program formally ended on August 31 , 2011 . </P>
the space shuttle program began with the flight of the challenger apollo mercury columbia explorer
Columbia