Space Shuttle. 1  Length Orbiter: 56 meters (184 feet) 2  Width Orbiter: 23 meters (76.6 feet) 3  Takeoff weight: 2,041 metric tons (4.5 million pounds) 4  Fuel weight: 1,937 metric tons (4.3 million pounds), including solid rocket boosters and external fuel tank. 5  Maiden Flight: April 12, 1981.
The Retained Earnings account is a stockholders' equity account that normally has a credit balance. The Retained Earnings account has three componentsârevenues, expenses, and dividends. Revenues increase the balance of retained earnings. Expenses and dividends decrease the balance of retained earnings.
Retained earnings are an important part of any business's financial picture. Over the course of a year, retained earnings will increase and decrease. These fluctuations will be due primarily to one of three events in a business's cash flow: experiencing net gains, having net losses or paying out dividends.