Space Shuttle

STS-51-F, a Space Shuttle mission launched by NASA on 29 July 1985 aboard Challenger, suffered the failure of a main engine sensor during ascent and executed the only in-flight abort in shuttle history, reaching a safe lower orbit before completing its scientific objectives. The mission is drawing renewed attention as a rare case of flight controllers handling a major in-flight emergency successfully.

Simple Flying has published a roundup of seven commercial airports whose runways were long enough to handle the Space Shuttle, a legacy of their original design for spaceplane or heavy military use. The piece highlights how these exceptionally long runways remain in commercial service today, drawing interest from aviation and space enthusiasts alike.