Description
On April 12, 1981 , exactly 20 years after humanity's first successful manned spaceflight,
Vostok 1, carried by Major Gagarin of the Soviet Union, praised the beauty of the Earth by saying, ``The Earth was blue.'' NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) launched Space Shuttle Columbia from Kennedy Space Center.
After the successful manned landing of Apollo 11,
public interest in space exploration rapidly waned, and
the enormous cost of space exploration was criticized. Therefore, in November 1972, NASA developed a space transportation system that could return to Earth and space many times at a low cost by eliminating the
traditional disposable use of expensive launch vehicles and reusing them. Approved in May.
The Space Shuttle consists of an orbiter, an external fuel tank, and two solid-fuel rockets.
The orbiter can carry up to seven crew members and up to 29,500 kg of cargo,
is launched by a rocket, and after completing its mission in space, re-enters the atmosphere and
lands while gliding.
Afterwards, it will be inspected and maintained before heading back to space.
In addition, two solid fuel rockets that fell into the sea will be recovered and used again.
The Space Shuttle's missions include the installation, repair, and recovery of artificial satellites, the development of solar thermal power plants,
the manufacture of alloys and medicines using the properties of space,
the construction of the International Space Station and colonies, and military use.
The Space Shuttle is expected to play an active role in various fields of space development in the future.
(*Information at the time of plastic model release)
[Aircraft data]
= Orbiter =
Overall length: 37.24m
Overall width: 23.79m
Overall height: 17.27m
Weight: 96,163kg (at landing)
Main engine thrust: 170,000 x 3
Maximum crew: 7 people
= External fuel tank =
Total length: 47m
Diameter: 8.4m
Weight: 756,441kg (when fully fueled)
= Solid fuel rocket =
Total length: 45.46m
Diameter: 3.8m
Weight: 589,670kg x 2
Thrust: 1,202,000kg x 2
