This Sunday marks the first anniversary of the NASA’s final Space Shuttle launch. During the 30 year program, the U.S. took major strides in space exploration; including placing the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit and construction of the International Space Station. Take a look back at the program’s fascinating history with our archival footage.

Space Shuttle Program Fun Facts:

• While in orbit, the space shuttle circled the planet at 17,500 mph, which means that the crew could see a sunrise or sunset every 45 minutes.
• The shuttle landed on Michelin tires – designed to withstand the force of 40 NASCAR racers all hitting the pavement at 250 mph.
• Liquid hydrogen & oxygen make up most of the shuttle’s fuel, so the exhaust during launch consisted mostly of water vapor.
• The orbiter’s main engines drain enough fuel to empty an average swimming pool every 25 seconds.

To browse more clips of the Space Shuttle Program, click here.