Space shuttles will not fly again until next year, and when one does lift off on the first post-Columbia mission, another will be on standby for a potential rescue mission.

Nasa’s first shuttle mission since the Columbia disaster would be a “test flight”, with astronauts inspecting their ship and practising repair techniques, the space agency announced tonight.

Nasa is making plans to return the space shuttle to orbit as early has the autumn and has instructed engineers to be prepared to make any “corrective actions” recommended by the board now investigating the Columbia tragedy.