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First they need to slow their speed so the earth's gravity can 'catch' them. This is done by doing a de-orbit burn. The space shuttle then literally falls from the sky - but in a well planned path - to come to an unpowered landing in either Florida at Kennedy Space Center, or at Edwards Airforce Base in California. The commander is in control and so the landing is done manually as there is considerably more risk with a computer controlled one. A parachute slows the shuttle once it has landed. The Russian Soyuz craft literally fall back to earth onto land, slowed by parachutes.
During earlier missions such as Apollo, the capsule came in backwards and a protective shield gradually burnt away thus taking the heat with it. Parachutes also were used to slow the descent. The capsule then splashed down in the sea, and was picked up by naval vessels assigned to the task.
You can watch a shuttle return from space on NASA TV from a few hours before landing. This covers the time from the deorbit burn until well after landing. There is a link to the site in the Web Links to the left. Shuttle missions don't happen very often, but you will still find something of interest to watch instead and there are video files of past missions in the ' Video Gallery' within the NASA site.
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What was the only part of the Apollo spacecraft to return to earth?
the eagle
What is the definition of a space shuttle?
the definition is a spacecraft launched like a rocket that can return to earth and land like a plane
If a spacecraft travels from earth to the edge of the solar system what will happen to the gravitational pull between earth and the spacecraft?
The gravitational pull between earth and the spacecraft will become insignificant.
When did Apollo 13 abort the moon mission?
For Apollo 13 to return to earth the moon mission was aborted on late 14/41970 or early 15/4/1970. The spacecraft had to make one orbit of the moon to return to earth.
What measurements did nasa use too bring the astronauts home?
The astronauts of Apollo 13 , had to use the lunar module to return to the earth after the spacecraft had exploded.
What was the last spacecraft to return to earth?
Juno
What was the only part of the Apollo spacecraft to return to earth?
the eagle
What was Apollo 8 used for?
The Apollo 8 spacecraft was the first spacecraft to orbit the moon and then return safely to earth.
What was the name of the first manned spacecraft to return safeley to earth?
Vostok I.
What was the name of the manned spacecraft to return safely to earth?
Jim bob junior 127
What was apollo11?
Apollo 11 was a three man spacecraft to land on the moon and to return back to the earth.
What does a moon landing probe do?
The lunar module lands on the moon and it helps as a launch pad for the spacecraft to return to earth.
What is the definition of a space shuttle?
the definition is a spacecraft launched like a rocket that can return to earth and land like a plane
Will all space crafts return to earth?
No. It is highly unlikely that all spacecraft will be returned to Earth. With the development of the VASIMR engine, it is possible that we could indeed intercept the Voyager spacecraft and bring them back for museum exhibit, but right now it is most likely that many spacecraft are gone for good.
What was the name of the spacecraft that was to return a capsule to Earth containing samples of dust from a comet's tail?
Stardust. The spaceships name was Stardust.
If a spacecraft travels from earth to the edge of the solar system what will happen to the gravitational pull between earth and the spacecraft?
The gravitational pull between earth and the spacecraft will become insignificant.
When did Apollo 13 abort the moon mission?
For Apollo 13 to return to earth the moon mission was aborted on late 14/41970 or early 15/4/1970. The spacecraft had to make one orbit of the moon to return to earth.
