See how NASA engineers met the challenge to build a spacecraft that can launch like a rocket and land like an airplane.

For years, the idea of a reusable spacecraft was the dream of early space pioneers, and in 1981, after almost a decade of engineering toil, the Space Shuttle Columbia finally lifted into orbit, ushering in a new era of space flight. Today, the Shuttle’s work is complete, but its engineering legacy will outlast those who built it.

In the film, America’s Secret Space Heroes: Space Shuttle relive its incredible 30-year history, from its groundbreaking achievements to its heartbreaking failures, as told by the people who designed, built, and flew this magnificent flying machine.

Enjoy free screenings of Smithsonian Channel films during Free First Thursdays this summer!