ASA Space Shuttle (model)
The Space Shuttle is a reusable U.S. space vehicle. Developed
by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA),
it consists of a winged orbiter, two solid-rocket boosters, and
an external tank. As with previous spacecraft, the shuttle is
launched from a vertical position. Liftoff thrust is derived
from the orbiter’s three main liquid-propellant engines
and the booster. After 2 minutes the boosters use up their fuel,
separate from the spacecraft, and after
deployment of parachutes, are recovered following splashdown.
After about 8 minutes of flight, the orbiter’s main engines
shut down; the external fuel tank is jettisoned and burns up
as it reenters the atmosphere. The orbiter meanwhile enters orbit
after a short burn of its two small Orbiting Maneuvering System
(OMS) engines.
The return to earth, the Orbiter turns around, fires its OMS
engines to reduce speed, and after descending through the atmosphere,
lands like a glider. Five different orbiters have been in service:
Atlantis, Challenger, Columbia, Discovery, and Endeavour. Two
have been lost in accidents: Challenger and Columbia
