Space shuttle was a spacecraft capable of reaching lower earth orbit. It was human spaceflight vehicle and partially reusable. NASA operated these shuttle as a part of the Space Shuttle program. The official name of the program was Space Transportation System (STS). Under this program 5 complete shuttle system were built and launched 135 missions from Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida.The program duration was 1981 to 2011.
Shuttle has configration like delta wing aircraft. Shuttle main component are orbiter vehicle (OV), a pair recoverable solid rocket booster (SRBs) and expandable external tank(ET) containing liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen. Like a conventional rocket space shuttle was launched vertically. During the launch two SRBs are operating in parallel with three main engine of OV, which were fueled by ET.
When Shuttle reached at orbit SRBs are droped and ET was droped just before Orbit insertion, which used the orbiter's two Orbital Maneuvering System(OMS) engines.
At the end of the mission OMS is start to de-orbit and re-enter the atmosphere. The orbiter then glided like spaceplane and land on runway, usually Shuttle landing Facility at Kennedy Space Center, Florida or Edward Airforce Base, California. After landing at Edward Airforce base Shuttle was carry back on Shuttle Carrier Aircraft, a modified version of Boeing 747.
Usually five to seven crew member rode in the orbiter. Minimum 2 member, commonder and pilot ,were sufficient for a minimal flight. The typical payload capacity was about 22,700 kg but it could be increase according to the mission. The payload was carried in cargo bay with doors, which opens along it's length. This make the shuttle unique among the spacecraft. Shuttle can deploy large satellite like Hubble space telescope and return large payload back to the earth.
Space shuttle was first operational spacecraft designed for reuse. Different payload carried by the shuttle to the lower earth orbit. Crew rotation and cargo supply to the International Space Station completed by the Shuttle. It can recover the satellites.
Each shuttle was designed for a projected lifespan of 100 launches or ten year of operational life. Five operational space shuttle were built Colombia, Challenger, Discovery,Atlantis and Endeavour. Total 135 mission launched and 134 launch were successful. There are two major accident of space shuttle, Challenger in 1986 and Colombia in 2003, with 14 astronaut killed. Shuttle program was retired with final flight of the Atlantis on July 21,2011.
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