Changes

The Space Shuttle system consists of three components,  

The Space Shuttle system consists of three components,  

*two reuseable solid rocket boosters which (and will provide the main launch vehicles under the new Ares Launch program that follows the shuttle).  These provide nearly 80% of the thrust at takeoff

*Two reuseable solid rocket boosters which (and will provide the main launch vehicles under the new Ares Launch program that follows the shuttle) provide nearly 80% of the thrust at takeoff

*the rust-colored External Tank, which feeds fuel to three Space Shuttle Orbiter Main Engines  

*The rust-colored External Tank, which feeds fuel to three Space Shuttle Orbiter Main Engines  

*The orbiter itself, of which there are 3 operational.  The Orbiters are reused but are extensively refurbished after each flight.

*The orbiter itself, of which there are 3 operational.  The Orbiters are reused but are extensively refurbished after each flight.