The Columbia was the first reusable spacecraft, which greatly changed the space program.
The Columbia Space Shuttle was first launched on April 12, 1981 as a test mission. The space shuttle leaves the Earth as a rocket weighing up to 2.0 million kilograms, and is launched with 3.0 million kilograms of thrust. The space shuttle, or Space Transportation System (STS), is the most complex technology in existence today. It consists of propulsion systems, an orbiter, and a fuel tank. The orbiter is the most important part of the craft, as it houses the crew, the controls, the cargo bay, and the three main engines. The crew cabin is separated into three levels, each serving a different purpose. The upper level consists of the flight deck, which controls the shuttle. The mid deck has the main living area for the crew, and the hatches to enter and exit the shuttle. The lower deck is the utility deck, which houses air and water for the crew.
Insulating material covers the outside of the shuttle, to prevent burning during re-entry into the atmosphere of the Earth. The tiles used on the outside of the shuttle are special lightweight material, silicate fiber that dissipates heat incredibly quickly. They can be used 100 times before replacement, but all 24,000 must be installed by hand.
During a launch, solid rocket boosters (SRBs) provide the majority of the power to launch. Once the shuttle reaches an altitude of 28 miles, the boosters fall away into the ocean, to be retrieved and reused for a later launch. The three main engines then provide the remainder of the power to be launched into orbit.
The external fuel tank contains a liquid hydrogen fuel and liquid oxygen oxidizer to combust with the hydrogen and power the main engines. After the first 8.5 minutes of flight, the fuel tank disintegrates in the atmosphere after being launched off of the shuttle. They were made of aluminum alloys and weighed about 35,000 kg when empty.
The space shuttle has had a major impact on our lives today. From the trips, we have been able to greatly enhance our knowledge of space. Also, many satellites have been launched using the space shuttles, enabling more effective communications. New materials have been developed from the space program, increasing the possible materials to be used in creating new technology.