Space Transportation System
The Space Transportation System (STS), commonly referred to as the space shuttle, is actually comprised of four primary components. These components are: the external tank, the solid rocket boosters, the orbiter itself, and the space shuttle main engines.
The External Tank
Credit: NASA
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The external tank itself has three major components: the forward liquid oxygen tank, the intertank (holding most of the electronics), and the aft liquid hydrogen tank.
The LO2 tank holds 143,000 gallons (540,000 liters) of liquid oxygen. The tank feeds a 17 inch diameter feed line that carries liquid oxygen through the intertank, then outside the external tank to the aft right external tank/orbiter disconnect umbilical.
The unpressurized intertank houses external tank instrumentation components and provides umbilical interface with the ground facility arm. It also contains the forward attachment beam and fittings for the solid rocket boosters.
The LH2 tank holds 383,000 gallons (1.5 million liters) of liquid hydrogen. It has a 17 inch feed line that carries liquid hydrogen to the aft left umbilical.
The outside of the external tank is coated with a sprayed-on foam insulation, which averages about one inch in thickness. At the beginning of the shuttle program, the external tanks were painted white. If was found that by leaving the tanks unpainted, approximately 600 pounds of weight could be saved. The tanks have been unpainted since STS-3.
The external tanks are the only part of the space transportation system which cannot be reused. They break apart and burn up in the atmosphere during reentry.
The Solid Rocket Boosters
Credit: NASA
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Two solid rocket boosters provide the main thrust to lift the space shuttle off the pad and up to an altitude of about 150,000 feet (24 nautical miles or 45.72 km). Each booster is 149.16 feet (45.46 meters) long and 12.17 feet (3.71 meters) in diameter. The each weigh about 1.3 million pounds (590,000 kg) at launch. They weigh about 192,000 pounds (87,089 kg) when expended.
Each booster provides approximately 3.3 million pounds of thrust at launch.
The propellant mixture (1.1 million pounds or
499,000 kg) consists of:
ammonium perchlorate as the oxidizer (69.6 % by weight)
aluminum as the fuel (16%)
iron oxide as a catalyst (0.4%)
a polymer as a binding agent (12.04%)
a epoxy curing agent (1.96%)
The solid rocket boosters are designed to be reused. A parachute drops the booster into the water at a velocity of about 81 feet per second. Because the booster hits the water nozzle first, air is trapped inside and allows the assembly to float in the water. The nozzle is then plugged, which allows for the booster to be towed back for reuse. (Watch the slideshow).
The Orbiter
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The orbiter structure is divided into nine major sections.
Forward fuselage: This consists of upper and lower sections which fit around the crew compartment like a clam shell. It supports the forward reaction control system (thrusters), nose cap, nose gear, nose gear wheel well, and nose gear doors.
Contractor for the forward fuselage is Rockwell's Space Transportation Systems Division, Downey, CA.
Crew compartment: This three level pressurized compartment has a side hatch, a hatch into the airlock, and another hatch from the airlock into the payload bay. There are six forward windshields, two overhead windows, two aft viewing windows, and a window in the side hatch. These are all pressure redundant. The two aft viewing windows each are constructed of two panes. All the other windows consist of three panes. Shades are provided for all windows to reduce or eliminate glare.
The crew compartment atmosphere is an 80/20 nitrogen/oxygen mix, maintained at 14.7 psia (± 0.2 psia).
Volume of the crew compartment (with airlock) is 2,325 cubic feet.
The uppermost compartment of the cabin is the flight deck. This is where the commander and pilot sit. Two mission specialist seats are behind those.
The middeck is where the bunk sleep stations and galley are located, along with three additional seats for mission specialists. Depending on mission requirements, the galley and bunk stations can be removed, and, in case of an emergency, provide space for three additional seats.
Below the middeck is space for air and water tanks. Major components of waste management and air revitalization systems resides here. There is also space for crew equipment storage.
The airlock is located on the middeck. Depending on the mission, it can be moved to the payload bay. Usually, two space suits and life support systems needed for work outside the cabin. The airlock is large enough to accommodate two fully suited crew members.
Flight deck on Endeavour
Credit: NASA
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Contractor for the crew comparment, bunk sleep stations, airlock, and modular stowage lockers is Rockwell's Space Transportation Systems Division, Downey, CA. Original contractor for the seats was AMI of Colorado Springs, CO, but now is Rockwell's Space Transportation Systems Division, Downey, CA. Contractor for the windows is Corning Glass Company, Corning, NY.
Wing: The wing provides conventional aerodynamic lift and control for the orbiter. The main landing gears and gear doors are contained within the intermediate sections. The forward section blends the body of the orbiter into the wing leading edges. The elevons provide flight control to the orbiter during atmospheric flight.
Contractor for the wind is Grumman Corporation, Bethpage, NY.
Midfuselage: The midfueelage connects the forward fuselage, wings, and aft fuselage. It also supports the payload doors.
Contractor for the midfuselage is General Dynamics Corporation, Convair Aerospace Division, San Diego, CA.
Payload bay doors: The port and starboard doors are each 60 feet (18.2 m) long. The doors are opened shortly after orbit is achieved to allow exposure of the environmental and life support radiators.
The contractors are Rockwell's Tulsa Division, Tulsa, OK (doors), Curtiss Wright, Caldwell, NJ (door power drive unit, rotary actuators, drive shafts, torque tubes and couplings, radiator actuator and latch mechanism), Hoover Electric, Los Angeles, CA (door electromechanical rotary actuators), Vought Corporation, Dallas, TX (radiators), and Rockwell's Space Transportation Systems Division, Downey, CA (latches, linkages, and actuators).
Aft fuselage: The aft fuselage links to and supports the aft wing spars, the midfueselage section, the body flap, vertical tail, the space shuttle main engines, and the aft orbital maneuvering system/reaction control system. There are also attachments for the external fuel tank and two launch umbilical panels.
Contractor for the aft fuselage is Rockwell's Space Transportation Systems Division, Downey, CA.
Orbital maneuvering system/reaction control system (OMS/RCS): There are two pods attached, one each to the left and right sides of the upper portion of the aft fuselage. The OMS provides thrust for orbit insertion, orbit transfer, rendezvous, deorbit, and orbit aborts. The RCS is used to null residual motion left from OMS use. In other words, it is used to fine-tune the shuttle position.
Contractor for the OMS/RCS pods is McDonnell Douglas, St. Louis, MO.
Body flap: The body flap provides thermal protection for the space shuttle main engines (SSME) during reentry. It also provides pitch control trim during atmospheric flight.
Contractor for the body flap is Rockwell's Columbus Division, Columbus, OH.
Vertical tail: The vertical tail provides control during atmospheric flight. It has a structural fin surface and a rudder which splits in two to serve as a speed brake.
Contractor for the vertical tail is Fairchild Republic, Farmingdale, NY.
Space Shuttle Main Engines (SSME)
The three space shuttle main engines burn a liquid oxygen/liquid hydrogen mix fed to them from the external fuel tank. Each engine can produce 375,000 lbs (179,097 kg) of thrust at sea level. The engines can be throttled between 65 percent and 109 percent. Higher thrust is used during launch and initial ascent. The engines are throttled back during final ascent to limit acceleration to 3 g's.
The SSME's were developed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center and built by Boeing-Rocketdyne, Canoga park, CA.
Recordation Drawings
Space Shuttle Orbiter Drawings
Solid Rocket Booster Drawings
External Tank Drawings
Space Shuttle Main Engine Drawings
Stack Assembly Drawings
More information can be obtained on the STS Overview page and the shuttle orbiter page.
