Usually, five to seven crew members ride in the orbiter. The orbiter carries astronauts and payload such as satellites or space station parts into low earth orbit, into the Earth's upper atmosphere or thermosphere. At this point, the orbital maneuvering system (OMS) engines may be used to adjust or circularize the achieved orbit. However, it is possible for it to be re-used in orbit for various applications. Upon reaching orbit, the main engines are shut down, and the external tank is jettisoned downward and falls to burn up in the atmosphere. The shuttle orbiter and external tank continue to ascend under power from the three main engines and their inertia. About two minutes after liftoff, staging occurs: the SRBs are released, and shortly begin falling into the ocean to be retrieved for reuse. The boosters are used only for the first stage, while the main engines burn for both stages. The Space Shuttle has a two stage ascent. It lifts off under the power of its two solid rocket boosters (SRBs) and its three main engines (SSMEs), the latter fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen from the external tank.
The shuttle stack launches vertically like a conventional rocket from a mobile launch platform. Space Shuttle Discovery launches at the start of STS-120. Payloads can be launched into higher orbits with either of two different booster stages developed for STS (1 stage PAM or 2 stage IUS) Space Shuttle The United States funded STS development and shuttle operations.Īt launch, the Space Shuttle consists of a dark orange-colored external tank (ET) two white, slender Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs) and the STS Orbiter Vehicle (OV) which contains the crew and payload. Department of Defense, the European Space Agency, and Germany. The Shuttle has been used for orbital space missions by NASA, the U.S.
Major missions have included launching numerous satellites and interplanetary probes, conducting space science experiments, and servicing and construction of space stations. The system is scheduled to be retired from service in 2010 after 134 launches. Operational flights began in 1982 following four test flights. The Space Shuttle, part of the Space Transportation System (STS), is a spacecraft operated by NASA for orbital human spaceflight missions.
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