rockets
Rockets, the fire and gas propelled out the bottom make it rise.
17,500 miles per hour puts the shuttle in orbit. BUT the gravity is still there. I'm fact there is about 90% of the gravity while the shuttle is on the ground. That great rate of speed is required to keep the shuttle from falling back to earth. At that speed the shuttle is basically falling around the planet.
There is no gravity in space but the shuttle stays in orbit because of the Earths gravity and inertia. The inertia keeps it going in a circular motion. In space the Earth's gravity is strong enough to hold something in orbit but not strong enough to pull it to Earth's surface.
Well they are used because without them the space shuttle would not be able to have enough force to escape the earths gravity when it was being launched.
It initially takes a large amount of energy to overcome Earths gravity. The aluminum oxide rockets get the shuttle moving and once they are lit up they burn until done. The liquid H2/O2 engines burn in a controlled, steerable manner to control entry into orbit.
To escape the Earths gravity the shuttle goes 17,500 miles an hour. You can use that value to figure out how far it goes in 500 seconds.
free from the motion of earth
because to get to space you have to overcome the pull of earths gravity
Although it reaches incredible speeds, a Space Shuttle is not going fast when it enters the atmosphere. The gravitational pull of Earth, or just gravity, are pulling down on the space shuttle with immense force.
Both mercury and mars have a gravity which is around 38% of earths. Mercury's gravity is 37.8% of earths, Mars' gravity is 37.7% of earths.
Theoretically yes - although it won't have enough to return. Once out of the gravitational pull of the Earths gravity and a couple of gravitational assists from other planets, a shuttle could make it to Pluto and beyond.
No it can't.