Rocket fuel is suitable for its job because it has a high energy content and can undergo rapid combustion, generating thrust to propel the rocket. It is designed for controlled and efficient release of energy to achieve the desired acceleration and speed for the rocket. Additionally, rocket fuel is stored in a way that allows for safe handling and ignition.
The space shuttle flight that deployed the Hubble Space Telescope into orbit was STS-31. It was carried out by the space shuttle Discovery in April 1990.
Liquid oxygen is used as an oxidizer in space shuttle engines because it provides a readily available and efficient source of oxygen for combustion. When combined with liquid hydrogen as fuel, it produces a high-energy reaction that generates the thrust needed to propel the shuttle into space. Additionally, using liquid oxygen helps to maintain a high specific impulse, making it a preferred choice for space shuttle engines.
A solid fuel booster is a propulsion system used in rockets to provide additional thrust during liftoff. It consists of a solid fuel, usually a mixture of powdered metals and chemicals, housed in a casing. When ignited, the solid fuel burns rapidly, generating a high amount of thrust to help launch the rocket into space.
No, you cannot hold your breath in space like in "2001: A Space Odyssey." In space, there is a vacuum, so there is no air to breathe. If you were to take off your helmet or try to hold your breath, the lack of oxygen would cause you to lose consciousness and die very quickly.
A space shuttle flies in space by using thrusters to make precise maneuvers, like changing its orientation or adjusting its orbit. It doesn't need wings to generate lift in the vacuum of space, so it relies on its thrusters for propulsion and control. The shuttle's speed and trajectory are carefully calculated to navigate in the zero-gravity environment of space.
Let's pick some plausible numbers and work it out: Assume that you breathe 18 times per minute, you inhale 2 liters of air with each breath, and air is 18% oxygen. (18/minute) times (2 liters) times (18%) times (60 minutes/hour) times (24 hours/day) times (365 days/year) = 9,696 liters of pure oxygen, at standard atmospheric pressure. If you're not a metric person, picture this as roughly the size of 2,500 1-gallon milk-jugs. For extended space missions, it's unlikely that the total oxygen requirements for a crew of several people will all be carried aboard at launch. It'll be essential to re-cycle the used gasses on board the spacecraft.
The furthest space drone in space is Voyager 1, launched by NASA in 1977. As of 2021, Voyager 1 has traveled over 14 billion miles from Earth and continues to send valuable data back to Earth from the edge of the solar system.
If a space shuttle were to be sucked into a black hole, the intense gravitational forces would stretch and compress it before ultimately crushing it into a singularity at the center of the black hole. The extreme tidal forces would tear apart the shuttle in a process known as spaghettification.
There have been a total of 18 accidents resulting in fatalities during space missions. These accidents occurred on both crewed and uncrewed flights conducted by various space agencies around the world. Each accident serves as a reminder of the risks and challenges associated with space exploration.
Outer space is typically measured in distance using astronomical units (AU), light-years, and parsecs. These units are used to measure the vast distances between celestial bodies such as planets, stars, and galaxies. Astronomical units are based on the distance between the Earth and the Sun, roughly 93 million miles (150 million kilometers).
A space shuttle would take about 6-7 years to reach Saturn, depending on the specific trajectory used, the speed of the shuttle, and the position of Saturn in its orbit around the sun. The distance between Earth and Saturn varies due to the elliptical nature of their orbits.
The shortest manned space mission was the first Mercury suborbital flight by American astronaut Alan Shepard on May 5, 1961, which lasted 15 minutes and 22 seconds. The shortest unmanned space mission was Vanguard TV3, a US satellite mission that lasted less than 5 seconds before it exploded shortly after launch on December 6, 1957.
Liquid oxygen is used in space shuttles as an oxidizer for the spacecraft's fuel, typically liquid hydrogen. When mixed and ignited, liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen create a powerful and efficient chemical reaction that generates the necessary thrust for the shuttle to break free of Earth's gravity and enter space. It is a highly efficient and reliable propellant choice for space missions.
Liquid hydrogen is challenging to use as fuel because it requires extremely low temperatures (around -253°C) to maintain in liquid form. This necessitates specialized storage and handling equipment that can be costly and complex. Additionally, hydrogen has a low energy density, meaning it takes up a lot of space for the amount of energy it provides, making storage and transportation less practical compared to other fuels.
The development of advanced rocket technology and the creation of artificial satellites have revolutionized space exploration the most. These advancements have enabled humans to travel further into space, gather valuable data about the universe, and establish a continuous presence in space. Additionally, the construction of the International Space Station has allowed for long-term human spaceflight missions and international collaboration in space exploration.
The capsule in the Mercury space program was designed by McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. It was known as the Mercury spacecraft, or "Freedom 7" for the first manned flight with Alan Shepard in 1961.
Yes, Hubble is expected to continue operating alongside the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). While JWST will offer new capabilities in infrared observations, Hubble will continue to provide valuable data in visible, ultraviolet, and near-infrared wavelengths. Both telescopes will complement each other in their respective strengths.
Most of outer space is composed of vacuum, which is a near-perfect emptiness with very low density of particles. It also consists of various forms of energy, such as electromagnetic radiation. Additionally, there are celestial bodies like stars, planets, asteroids, and comets scattered throughout space.
Aircraft designed to withstand extreme temperatures of space travel use special materials such as ceramics and ablative coatings to withstand the intense heat during reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. The spacecraft is also designed with insulation to protect against extreme cold temperatures in space. Additionally, thermal protection systems like heat shields are used to dissipate heat and protect the structure of the aircraft.
No, an Eagle is not a spacecraft. It is a bird of prey known for its keen eyesight and powerful talons. The Eagle spacecraft, on the other hand, is a vehicle used in the Apollo program for landing astronauts on the moon.
Communication signals can travel through space using radio waves, which can pass through a vacuum. The command center on Earth can send signals to the spaceship, which can receive them using specialized communication equipment on board. This allows for real-time communication between Earth and the spacecraft in space.
An Extra-Vehicular Activity (EVA) during a space mission is when an astronaut ventures outside their spacecraft or space station into the vacuum of space to perform tasks such as repairs, maintenance, or experiments. EVAs are carefully planned and monitored to ensure astronaut safety in the harsh conditions of space.
The height of a space lab in orbit can vary, but typically they are located in Low Earth Orbit (LEO) at an altitude of around 200-400 kilometers (about 124-248 miles) above Earth's surface.
The time it takes to travel from space to Earth depends on the distance between the two and the mode of transportation. For instance, the International Space Station orbits Earth in about 90 minutes, while a spacecraft returning from the Moon takes about 3 days. A trip from deep space could take months or even years with current technology.