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	The Space Shuttle
	As the Space Shuttle returns to Earth from space, its belly glows red hot for about 10 minutes. The temperature of the Shuttle belly is over 1,200 degrees Celsius.

The Space Shuttle takes off like a rocket, orbits Earth like a spaceship, and lands like an airplane. Unlike earlier vehicles used for space travel, the Shuttle can be reused. The Shuttle has a huge payload bay in which cargo, such as a space probe, is carried into space. The Space Shuttle has allowed astronauts to carry out many important missions, such as the launch and repair of the Hubble Space Telescope.

Six Space Shuttles have been built. The first was the Shuttle Enterprise, but it has never been into space. It was used for training exercises. The first Shuttle to orbit Earth was called Columbia. One of the Shuttles, Challenger, blew up on its way into orbit in 1986. The Shuttle Columbia broke into pieces trying to return to Earth from orbit in 2003.

A Question Multiple Choice The Space Shuttle is a vehicle which takes off like a rocket, orbits like a spacecraft, and lands like a _______. car bird airplane helicopter