The shuttle was essentially just a glider once you got it out of orbit. Not a very good glider, but still an object intend to "fly". I think the best analogy I

The shuttle was essentially just a glider once you got it out of orbit. Not a very good glider, but still an object intend to "fly". I think the best analogy I've heard for the boosters is that it's equivalent to throwing a pencil over the Empire State Building and having it land on it's eraser.