What happens to the space shuttle rocket and boosters?

by State Library and Archives of Florida
Question by Sherlock2006: What happens to the space shuttle rocket and boosters?
That rocket that the space shuttle is strapped to when it lifts off - what happens to that thing once the shuttle's in flight? I know the side booster things fall off first, and later the whole rocket detaches. But where do they land? In the water, I'm guessing, but if the space shuttle is way up in outer space by the time the rocket parts fall away, how can they be sure

Astronomy space enthusiast ...