[July 4th]

"The oxidizer in the Shuttle solids is ammonium perchlorate, which forms 69.93 percent of the mixture. The fuel is a form of powdered aluminum (16 percent), with an iron oxidizer powder (0.07) as a catalyst. The binder that holds the mixture together is polybutadiene acrylic acid acrylonitrile (12.04 percent). In addition, the mixture contains an epoxy-curing agent (1.96 percent). The binder and epoxy also burn as fuel, adding thrust."

[coloradan]

"The oxidizer in the Shuttle solids is ammonium perchlorate, which forms 69.93 percent of the mixture. The fuel is a form of powdered aluminum (16 percent), with an iron oxidizer powder (0.07) as a catalyst. The binder that holds the mixture together is polybutadiene acrylic acid acrylonitrile (12.04 percent). In addition, the mixture contains an epoxy-curing agent (1.96 percent). The binder and epoxy also burn as fuel, adding thrust."

That is the composition of the solid rocket boosters, which fire during takeoff and are jettisoned before orbit is reached. The shuttle uses some derivative of hydrazine, which is extremely poisonous, for in-orbit maneuvers and for reentry. When the shuttles land, the crew is kept locked inside for a moment while a chem team sniffs the outside for hydrazine leaks - the crew doesn't come out until the absence of hydrazine is verified.