Interesting fact: The space shuttle's weight changes dramatically during launch due to fuel consumption and payload deployment.
The answer: A typical space shuttle weighs about 2,030,000 kilograms (4,470,000 pounds) at launch, including the orbiter, external fuel tank, and solid rocket boosters.
The space shuttle was a reusable spacecraft used by NASA from 1981 to 2011. Its total launch weight includes the orbiter vehicle, which alone weighs around 78,000 kilograms (172,000 pounds), the large external fuel tank holding liquid hydrogen and oxygen, and two solid rocket boosters. The combined weight is necessary to overcome Earth's gravity and reach orbit. After fuel burn and booster separation, the orbiter's weight decreases significantly during the mission.
