Space Shuttle

NASA’s Space Shuttle, is the U.S. States government’s current manned launch vehicle. There were a total of five usable orbiters built, of which three remain active. The winged shuttle orbiter is launched vertically, usually carrying five to seven astronauts and up to of payload into low earth orbit. When its mission is complete, it fires its maneuvering thrusters to drop out of orbit and re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere. During the descent and landing, the shuttle orbiter acts as a glider and makes a completely unpowered landing. The Shuttle is considered one of the most complex machines made by humans.

Height 56.14 m (149.6 ft) - Diameter 8.7 m (28.5 ft) - Mass 2,029,203 kg (4,474,574 lb) - Stages 2Payload to LEO 24,400 kg (53,700 lb) - Payload to GTO 3,810 kg (8,390 lb) - Maiden flight 12/04/81 - Boosters (Stage 0) - Solid Rocket Boosters No boosters 2 Engines 1 solid.