THE SPACE SHUTTLE
Shuttle Orbiter
The Space Shuttle
• Primary objective is to improve access to
space
• First flight was April 1981 with astronauts
Young and Crippen
• Has flown approximately 100 missions
carrying 1.5 million pounds of cargo and
over 600 major payloads
The Space Shuttle
• World’s first and only reusable space
vehicle
• Can transport people, materials, equipment
and spacecraft into orbit
• Also used to service and repair satellites and
observatories and to conduct medical and
scientific experiments
Space Shuttle Components
• Orbiter-can carry up to 7 astronauts and the
payload in its 60-foot long cargo bay
(Atlantis, Discovery & Endeavour)
• External tank (154 feet) which stores nearly
half million pounds of liquid oxygen and
hydrogen
• Solid rocket boosters which generate nearly
6 million pounds of thrust; jettisoned 2
minutes into flight.
Shuttle Missions
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Astronomy and Microgravity Science
Astrophysics and Planetary Science
Atmospheric Science
Communications
Geophysics and Solar Physics
Life Science Research
National Security
International Commitments
• The Shuttle has flown payloads and
astronauts from may different countries
including: Australia, Italy, Belgium,
Mexico, Canada, The Netherlands,
Germany, Russia, Japan, Saudi Arabia,
France, Switzerland, India, Spain,
Indonesia, and the United Kingdom.