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Space shuttle

A reusable launch and orbital spacecraft developed by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) for manned spaceflight missions.

Contributors in Space shuttle

Space shuttle

Saal an der Donau

Aerospace; Space flight

Saal an der Donau est une commune de Bavière (Allemagne), située dans l'arrondissement de Kelheim, dans le district de Basse-Bavière.

solid rocket boosters

Aerospace; Space shuttle

Two rockets flanking the orbiter that burn solid fuel during first minutes of ascent and then drop off, parachuting into the ocean.

orbital maneuvering system

Aerospace; Space shuttle

Two engines mounted in pods outside the back of the fuselage, for power when entering or leaving orbit.

reaction control system

Aerospace; Space shuttle

Set of engines on each side of back fuselage, used to control motion while maneuvering out of orbit and returning into the atmosphere.

split rudder-speed brake

Aerospace; Space shuttle

Panel on the vertical stabilizer that splays apart to increase drag and slow the craft during landing. Moved together, this part acts like a rudder to control motion.

heat-resistant tiles

Aerospace; Space shuttle

Tiles that line the orbiter's belly to protect it during the intense heat of returning to the earth's atmosphere.

solid rocket booster (SRB) propellant

Aerospace; Space shuttle

Composite propellant used in the space shuttle solid rocket boosters that consists mainly of ammonium perchlorate as the oxidizer, powdered aluminum as the metallic fuel, and PBAN, polybutadiene-acryl ...

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