booster
)
Test-firing the DM-2 (Demonstration Motor 2) for the solid rocket booster (SRB) used on the space shuttle. The shuttle's SRBs give the spacecraft most of its lift, providing a combined thrust of 2.6 million kg/5.8 million lb. After two minutes of flight, having accelerated the shuttle to 4,979 kph/3,094 mph, they separate and fall back to Earth for retrieval and re-use.
| First-stage rocket of a launching vehicle, or an additional rocket strapped to the main rocket to assist lift-off. |
| The US Delta rocket, for example, has a cluster of nine strap-on boosters that fire on lift-off. Europe's Ariane 3 rocket uses twin strap-on boosters, as does the US space shuttle. |
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