Previously, all ventures in to space were achieved with giant rockets which, after a certain amount of time , were directed back in to the earth’s atmosphere to be reduced to a cinder by the enormous heat of re entry –after the crew and their capsule had been ejected virtually all of that tremendously expensive equipment was destroyed after only one use.





Following are the main supporting systems of a space shuttle.





1. Propulsion system


2. External fuel tank


3. Space shuttle orbiter