Why is the space shuttle a different size than earlier rockets?

The Space Shuttle Program rocekts are a different size than earlier ones because it's primary purpose was to take astronauts to the moon. Given this extraordinary task, it was made with a variety of components which would help astronauts sustain life for the time that they stayed on the Moon and for a safe comeback to Earth. These components include:

-Orbital Vehicle -A pair of recoverable solid rocket boosters  -Expendable rocket tank (containing liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen).

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