Introduction to the Space Shuttle
The Space Shuttle was a reusable spacecraft system developed by NASA, consisting of a crewed orbiter, two solid rocket boosters (SRBs), and an external tank (ET). The primary goal of the Space Shuttle was to transport crew and payloads to low Earth orbit (LEO), and to perform various missions such as space station construction, satellite deployment, and planetary exploration.
Primary Components
The Space Shuttle consisted of three primary components: the orbiter, external tank, and solid rocket boosters.
Orbiter: The orbiter was the crewed component of the Space Shuttle, responsible for housing the crew, payload, and various systems necessary for orbital operations. The orbiter was powered by three main engines, fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
External Tank (ET): The external tank provided fuel for the main engines during launch and ascent to orbit. The ET was jettisoned after the shuttle reached orbit, and re-entered the Earth's atmosphere, where it disintegrated.
Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs): The two SRBs were used to augment the main engines during launch, providing additional thrust to lift the shuttle off the launch pad and propel it to orbit.