Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (NASA, 4/29/09)

Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (NASA, 4/29/09)
Originally uploaded by nasa1fan

Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters (NASA, 4/29/09)

The space shuttle twin solid rocket boosters separate from the orbiter and external tank at an altitude of approximately 24 miles. They descend on parachutes and land in the Atlantic Ocean off the Florida coast, where they are recovered by ships, returned to land, and refurbished for reuse. These images show a typical descent phase and parachute deployment events of the boosters after separation from the tank and orbiter during a shuttle launch.

Image credit: NASA