View source for Space Shuttle, Card No 46 (RaceIntoSpace 1971)

{{RISCard1971|{{BASEPAGENAMEE}}.jpg|46|Space Shuttle |1980s 
|Two-Stage Piloted space planes which take-off vertically like rockets but land on a runway like jet-transports are planned in America to replace the present throwaway space rockets. 

The illustration shows a winged orbiter about to separate from a winged booster 200,000 feet above the Earth. While the orbiter continues into orbit – where it may remain for up to two weeks – the booster flies back to base. 

The orbiter carries 25,000 to 50,000 pound payloads, a large communications satellite or interplanetary space probe, or space station supplies – in its cargo hold.
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