+ Text Only Site + Site Help & Preferences
	+ Home The 15-story tall, rust-colored external tank is the only shuttle element that isn't reused. It feeds more than half a million gallons of fuel to the shuttle's three main engines during launch. + More NASA Facts...		+ NASA Home > Mission Sections > Space Shuttle > Return to Flight > Space Shuttle System       The Space Shuttle System is made up of three main components: •The two Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs), which provide 80 percent of launch thrust. •The huge rust-colored External Tank (ET), which feeds fuel to three Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSMEs) during launch •The Orbiter itself, which serves as the crew's home in space and is equipped to dock with the International Space Station. NASA has made many safety improvements to the Shuttle System, including redesigning and refitting the External Tank to reduce the risk of foam and ice hitting the Orbiter during liftoff. Return to Flight Improvements: + Part I | + Part II + Video Gallery: How Things Work In-Depth Explanations and Schematics: Orbiter | External Tank | Solid Rocket Boosters | Main Engines The Orbiters: Atlantis | Challenger | Columbia | Discovery | Endeavour Learn more about technical, communications and processing improvements, efforts to recognize and eliminate debris sources, and identifying and repairing damage in flight in this excerpt (4.8 Mb PDF) from the STS-114 Press Kit (8.9 Mb PDF).         Tools of the Trade Applied Physics Lab finds new ways to get the job done. + Read More     The Heat is On! NASA adds a new heater to the Space Shuttle's fuel tank. + Read More     Shuttle Basics The world's first reusable spacecraft launches like a rocket, maneuvers in Earth orbit like a spacecraft and lands like an airplane. + Read More     The Orbiter From crew module to flight deck, middeck to payload bay -- explore the crew's home in orbit. + Read More     Space Shuttle Main Engines The three Space Shuttle Main Engines, in conjunction with the Solid Rocket Boosters, provide the thrust to lift the Orbiter off the ground for the initial ascent. + Read More     The External Tank The 'gas tank' for the orbiter feeds the Shuttle's main engines and is the only component of the system that is not reused. + Read More           Discovery Remated Discovery is attached to a new External Tank. + View this Video     How Things Work: SRB Retrieval Learn how NASA retrieves spent Solid Rocket Boosters after splashdown. + View this Video     How Things Work: Payloads How are payloads installed on the Shuttle? + View this Video     How Things Work: External Fuel Tank The External Tank is actually two tanks in one. + View this Video     How Things Work: Thermal Protection System How does the Space Shuttle keep its cool? + View this Video     + View Archive
	+ Back to Top
	+ Freedom of Information Act + Budgets, Strategic Plans and Accountability Reports + The President's Management Agenda + Privacy Policy and Important Notices + Inspector General Hotline + Equal Employment Opportunity Data Posted Pursuant to the No Fear Act + Information-Dissemination Priorities and Inventories + USA.gov + ExpectMore.gov Editor: Jim Wilson NASA Official: Brian Dunbar Last Updated: August 22, 2007 + Contact NASA + SiteMap