Space/Science — HabitableZone

Space/Science » in reply to re: Energy Limited

Shuttle Mass

Hi All

Whoever Alphabet is they have muddled their Space Shuttle figures. A Shuttle's air-frame might mass ~ 45 tons, but generally a space-travelling Shuttle has RCS and OMS propellant massing 14 tons and its Main Engines weigh ~ 12 tons. Plus several more tons of consumables used on space-missions. All up a Shuttle typically masses ~ +90 tons before it loads its payload. All up the STS delivers ~ +120 tons to LEO.

On a minor point: the Orbiter circularises its orbit with its OMS, so the External Tank doesn't quite make it to orbit.

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