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NASA has adopted an official design of an insignia for its Space Shuttle and Space Transportation System. The emblem is triangular in shape pointed upward with an overhead view of he Space Shuttle in white on a field of two shades of blue. The entire emblem is outlined by gold stripe. The insignia represents the entire Space Transportation System or Space Shuttle program. The Space Shuttle, as it appears on the insignia, consists of the Orbiter, a delta-wing airplane like vehicle, mounted on a large cylindrical external propellant tank which, in turn has attached to it two solid-propellant booster rockets. The Space Shuttle is launched like a rocket, performs Earth orbital missions of up to 30 days, then lands like an airplane and is refurbished for another mission. Crews may consist of as many as seven people – commander, pilot, mission specialist and up to four payload specialists who will operate specific payload equipment where their special skills are needed. |
