Spacelab was an integral part of NASA’s Space Shuttle Programme (also known as the Space Transportation System or STS) and its principal scientific manned module. It was the first European manned space project. Its maiden mission in 1983 included the first European astronaut, Ulf Merbold and it flew 21 subsequent missions until 1998, making important contributions to astronomy, life sciences, atmospheric physics, Earth observation and materials science. Spacelab was funded, designed and built by ESRO/ESA as a modular, general purpose laboratory, after Europe was invited to take part in NASA’s post-Apollo programme.

Space Transportation System (STS) was the official name of NASA’s space shuttle program. It operated from 1981 to 2011 with a total of 135 missions, docking with the Russian Mir space station 9 times and the ISS 37 times, and carrying 355 astronauts from 16 countries.

See the full list of STS missions on the ESA website.