The space shuttle was built in sections and put together on the launch pad.
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The space shuttle was assembled in various stages. The main components included the orbiter, solid rocket boosters, and external fuel tank. These components were manufactured by different contractors and then brought together for final assembly at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The shuttle program involved thousands of engineers, technicians, and workers to design, build, and test the shuttle before each mission.
Space shuttle Atlantis was built in 1985 as a replacement for the space shuttle Challenger, which was lost in a tragic accident. Atlantis was the fourth shuttle orbiter to be built.
The first space shuttle, Columbia, was built in Palmdale, California, by Rockwell International's Space Transportation Systems Division.
The first space shuttle ever built was the Space Shuttle Enterprise. It was constructed as a prototype and test vehicle and never flew into space. Enterprise was used for approach and landing tests before the operational shuttle flights began with Columbia.
The Columbia space shuttle was built in the 1970s and was the first operational space shuttle in NASA's fleet. It made its maiden flight on April 12, 1981.
NASA