After touchdown, the orbiter begins its rollout with the two main landing gear in contact with the runway. Rudder control is used primarily to maintain alignment. As the speed decreases to about 185 knots or 185 nautical miles per hour (343 kilometers per hour), the nose of the orbiter begins to pitch down. At this time, the red, white and blue 40-foot-diameter (12.2-meter-diameter) drag parachute is deployed with the aid of a mortar- deployed 9-foot-diameter (2.7-meter-diameter) pilot chute.

At about the time the nose gear tires make contact with the runway, at around 160 knots or 160 nautical miles per hour (296 kilometers per hour), the chute disreefs and becomes fully inflated, thus creating a drag force to rapidly slow down the orbiter while providing a safety margin during the rollout. Once the nose gear is down, steering with the nose wheels becomes the primary control system for alignment down the rest of the runway. At approximately 30 knots or 30 nautical miles per hour (56 kilometers per hour), the chute has completed its function and disconnects from the orbiter, which rolls to a stop using its brakes.