What pilot certificates were needed to fly the Space Shuttle?
FAA considers space shuttle either a military aircraft or spacecraft and hence its rules don't apply on space shuttle.

However, requirements to be a pilot for a space shuttle are:


  ... at least 1,000 hours pilot-in-command time on jet aircraft


It means that you need type rating to operate a heavy jet aircraft (not light jet). Weight of an empty space shuttle is 172,000 lb (78,000 kg)1. In addition, you need the additional requirements mentioned by NASA (link above), which include education and health standards to meet.



Operating empty weight of Airbus A380 is 610,000 lbs.