The cover of THE MAN WHO CORRUPTED EARTH depicts a redesigned space shuttle system. The artist includes the characteristic solid rocket boosters (SRBs) as well as the space shuttle main engines (SSMEs). The SRBs, in the drawing, serve as orbital maneuvering engines. This configuration is altogether opposite of the NASA launch system. SRBs are used only at liftoff, and are much too powerful for orbital maneuvering. Less than two minutes into the mission, they are jettisoned. Additionally, the SSMEs require the massive external tank (ET) for their fuel source. No ET is drawn on the cover of THE MAN WHO CORRUPTED EARTH. It is doubtful that such a space shuttle configuration would be capable of space propulsion in the fashion shown. For a description of the actual space shuttle's systems click here.