How does the space shuttle takes off and land
The space shuttle is attached to the External Tank – a giant fuel tank. The ET sits between two solid rocket boosters, which give enough upward thrust to send the shuttle almost all the way into its orbit. The shuttle also has three main engines that fire during takeoff and help control the ascent. These engines burn liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen supplied from the ET. The shuttle, ET, and boosters sit on the mobile launch platform at a launch pad. When it’s time to lift off, the shuttle main engines fire, the explosive hold down bolts detonate, and the SRB engines fire. The shuttle will roll slightly to adjust trajectory. After a few minutes, the SRBs are released and fall back into the ocean for recovery. The shuttle continues on, using fuel from the ET. A little while later, the ET will be released, and the shuttle, now in space, continues on alone. When landing, the shuttle comes in as a glider. It enters the atmosphere going several times the speed of sound and must perform sev
