SHUTTLE PROGRAM
BY THE NUMBERS
196 billions of dollars spent on the program over 40 years
90 billions of dollars that NASA originally said the program would cost
50 flights originally planned each year
9 actual maximum number of flights a year
1981 the year of the first shuttle flight
135 total shuttle flights, counting Friday's launch
33 flights for Atlantis, counting Friday's launch
14 shuttle astronauts died in the program
