![An illustration of a space shuttle orbiter on a white background. There are cutaways revealing different parts of the orbiter, like the hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide tanks, engines, and thrusters at left, and the flight deck, mid-deck, and nose gear at front. The orbiter is white and in the middle, has a U.S. flag on it as well as the words \"United States\" and the initials \"USA.\"](\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/0102619orig.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>This 2001 illustration labels important parts of a space shuttle orbiter<\/a>. The orbiter was the heart and brains of the space shuttle<\/a> and served as the crew transport vehicle that carried astronauts to and from space. The space shuttle was comprised of the orbiter, the main engines, the external tank, and the solid rocket boosters. The space shuttle was the world\u2019s first reusable spacecraft and the first spacecraft in history that could carry large satellites both to and from orbit.<\/p>\n Image credit: NASA<\/em><\/p>\n Powered by WPeMatico<\/a><\/small><\/p>\n Get The Details…<\/a> This 2001 illustration labels important parts of a space shuttle orbiter. The orbiter was the heart and brains of the space shuttle and served as the crew transport vehicle that carried astronauts to and from space. The space shuttle was comprised of the orbiter, the main engines, the external tank, and the solid rocket boosters. [\u2026] Continue reading
\nMonika Luabeya <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"