The Space Shuttle - The First Flight in 1986

19 86 had a number of important milestones planned that reflected both the growing maturity of shuttle operations as well as the increased confidence in the programm. For 19 86, nassau expected to fly 15 shuttle missions with their four orbiter fleet, an average of one flight every three and a half weeks. This sort of flight schedule was critical to keeping the pay load back log reasonably short on what was supposed to be America's only launch system. Without flying regularly, the a cost savings associated with reusing the spacecraft would never be realized.