Well, this is handy, if a bit outdated. In 1988 NASA released a Space Shuttle News Reference Manual which is full of details about how the shuttle program works. I’m using it to short-cut on some SF world-building.
How Stuff Works has a good section on the Shuttle as well.
I did a report on the space shuttle back in 1983 for 8th grade. It’s probably still in my mom’s basement if you want to use it. 🙂
I don’t remember how I got the information on the shuttle back then. It certainly wasn’t as easy to get as it is now. I love the future! Or present. Whatever.