Space shuttles

Space shuttles are reusable spacecraft designed to transport astronauts and cargo between Earth and space. They consist of three main parts: the orbiter (crew vehicle), the external fuel tank, and solid rocket boosters. After launch, shuttles ascend into space, deploy satellites, or repair space stations. They return to Earth by gliding and landing on a runway like an airplane. Used primarily from 1981 to 2011, shuttles revolutionized space exploration by enabling multiple missions with a single vehicle, reducing costs, and supporting international scientific and development efforts in space.