The solid rocket booster were used to trust the space shuttle into outer space where the earth gravity is very low.

In 1981, I was working as part of the engineers getting ready the Columbia for its first space mission.

Columbia was the first Space Shuttle that was launch into space.  I was working as part of the engineering crew responsible to make sure that the mission was a success.

Once in space in absence of gravity the shuttle bay doors were opened to expose the experiments of space load to be exposed to the rest of the universe

This was a photo taken from the Space Shuttle showing the oceans and the separation from land.  Also you will notice the horizon where the sky and earth meets.

This is a view of John Young and Bob Crippen working together on a scientific experiment in outer space in the absence of gravity.  Notice that the astronaut suits are not needed.