<P> The Shuttle stack launched vertically like a conventional rocket . It lifted off under the power of its two SRBs and three main engines , which were fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen from the ET . The Space Shuttle had a two - stage ascent . The SRBs provided additional thrust during liftoff and first - stage flight . About two minutes after liftoff , frangible nuts were fired , releasing the SRBs , which then parachuted into the ocean , to be retrieved by NASA recovery ships for refurbishment and reuse . The orbiter and ET continued to ascend on an increasingly horizontal flight path under power from its main engines . Upon reaching 17,500 mph ( 7.8 km / s ) , necessary for low Earth orbit , the main engines were shut down . The ET , attached by two frangible nuts was then jettisoned to burn up in the atmosphere . After jettisoning the external tank , the orbital maneuvering system ( OMS ) engines were used to adjust the orbit . The orbiter carried astronauts and payloads such as satellites or space station parts into low Earth orbit , the Earth 's upper atmosphere or thermosphere . Usually , five to seven crew members rode in the orbiter . Two crew members , the commander and pilot , were sufficient for a minimal flight , as in the first four `` test '' flights , STS - 1 through STS - 4 . The typical payload capacity was about 50,045 pounds ( 22,700 kg ) but could be increased depending on the choice of launch configuration . The orbiter carried its payload in a large cargo bay with doors that opened along the length of its top , a feature which made the Space Shuttle unique among spacecraft . This feature made possible the deployment of large satellites such as the Hubble Space Telescope and also the capture and return of large payloads back to Earth . </P>
<P> The Shuttle stack launched vertically like a conventional rocket . It lifted off under the power of its two SRBs and three main engines , which were fueled by liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen from the ET . The Space Shuttle had a two - stage ascent . The SRBs provided additional thrust during liftoff and first - stage flight . About two minutes after liftoff , frangible nuts were fired , releasing the SRBs , which then parachuted into the ocean , to be retrieved by NASA recovery ships for refurbishment and reuse . The orbiter and ET continued to ascend on an increasingly horizontal flight path under power from its main engines . Upon reaching 17,500 mph ( 7.8 km / s ) , necessary for low Earth orbit , the main engines were shut down . The ET , attached by two frangible nuts was then jettisoned to burn up in the atmosphere . After jettisoning the external tank , the orbital maneuvering system ( OMS ) engines were used to adjust the orbit . The orbiter carried astronauts and payloads such as satellites or space station parts into low Earth orbit , the Earth 's upper atmosphere or thermosphere . Usually , five to seven crew members rode in the orbiter . Two crew members , the commander and pilot , were sufficient for a minimal flight , as in the first four `` test '' flights , STS - 1 through STS - 4 . The typical payload capacity was about 50,045 pounds ( 22,700 kg ) but could be increased depending on the choice of launch configuration . The orbiter carried its payload in a large cargo bay with doors that opened along the length of its top , a feature which made the Space Shuttle unique among spacecraft . This feature made possible the deployment of large satellites such as the Hubble Space Telescope and also the capture and return of large payloads back to Earth . </P>
where do space shuttles fly in the atmosphere
where do space shuttles fly in the atmosphere
thermosphere
thermosphere