NASA's space shuttle programme turns 30

A few months before NASA retires its fleet of shuttles, the space agency marks its 30-year anniversary of the space shuttle programme.Three decades ago on April 12, Space Shuttle Columbia blasted off on its two-day maiden mission, becoming the first shuttle to orbit the earth. The mission launched a new era in space travel and exploration.Columbia met a tragic end in February 2003 when the shuttle broke apart about 12 miles over Texas as it headed for landing at the Kennedy Space Centre, killing its seven-member crew.NASA launched Space Shuttle Discovery on its final mission in February, to be followed by the last two space ships in the shuttle fleet, Endeavour and Atlantis, these shuttles will make their last flights in the coming weeks.