The ET is the fuel tank for the main engines. During ascent, the ET provides liquid propellants to the SSMEs at the rate of more than 1,000 gallons per second. The SRBs, which burn solid propellant, provide more than 70 percent of the Shuttle's thrust during the first two minutes of ascent.

To the right are interesting facts and figures about the Space Shuttle system. For more information, check out the Space Shuttle Reference Manual.

• Space Shuttle Main Engine
• External Tank
• Reusable Solid Rocket Motor and Solid Rocket Boosters

• Shuttle Component Specifications
• Thrust Characteristics At Liftoff
• Space Shuttle Main Engine
• External Tank
• Solid Rocket Booster
• Launch Event Chronology
• SRB Recovery Chronology
• Basic Orbiter Specifications