Stock Photo - 04/20/2000 ___ A Shuttle Training Aircraft STA taxis into the parking area of KSC´s Shuttle Landing Facility. The STA is a modified Grumman American Aviation_built Gulfstream II executive jet that was modified to simulate an orbiter´s cockpit, motion and visual cues, and handling qualities. It is used by Shuttle flight crews to practice landing the orbiter. In flight, the STA duplicates the orbiter´s atmospheric descent trajectory from approximately 35,000 feet altitude to landing on a runway. The orbiter differs in at least one major aspect from conventional aircraft, it is unpowered during re_entry and landing so its high_speed glide must be perfectly executed the first time there is no go_around capability. The orbiter touchdown speed is 213 to 226 miles 343 to 364 kilometers per hour. There are two STAs, based in Houston