The last space shuttle launched from the United States on July 8, 2011. The U.S. will fly no more space shuttles. The American Space Shuttle program has ended indefinitely.
This may come as a surprise. After all, how can humans explore space without a space shuttle?
The answer involves robots. Instead of humans, robots will explore space. Robots are great because they can go places humans cannot. And they can do it with no danger to human life. For example, robots can go where there is no oxygen. They can go where it is freezing cold. They can go where there is no food or water.