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What keeps a space shuttle in orbit from falling gack to earth?
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
gravity....
Wiki User
∙ 12y ago
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Is there gravity where space shuttles orbit?
A very low level, called microgravity, that's a small fraction of normal gravity. Astronauts feel weightless, by comparison. Space shuttles orbit at a distance of 100-200 miles above the Earth. The shuttle is actually falling toward the Earth all the time, but the speed of its orbit keeps it from falling any closer. Don't confuse gravity with weight. The Earth's gravity extends to the outer reaches of the Solar System. Earth's gravity is what keeps the satellites which are orbiting the Earth from flying away into space. "Weight" is measure of the local acceleration due to gravity. When a person is in orbit, inside a shuttle, he is falling along with the shuttle at about 17,000 miles per hour. The mass of the shuttle and the mass of the person are attracting each other with 'micro-gravity' which is a million times less than the gravity of the Earth.
Explain why a space shuttle will stay in in orbit around the earth and will not fall to the earth?
The space shuttle is traveling at a speed such that its fall to earth matches the curvature of the earth. As a result, it is "falling" to the earth at the same rate that the earth's surface is rotating away, so it stays in orbit.
How does the space shuttle orbit the earth?
The shuttle is always falling via gravity, it's just so far up that it never falls to earth,but goes around and around.
How does a space shuttle leave space?
Easy the shuttle that is currently in orbit is going about 25,405 feet per second (17,322 statute miles per hour). In order to get back to Earth the shuttle will fire a In order to return to earth, the shuttle fires its Orbital Manuevering Engines (OMS) in the direction opposite to its orbit, also known as a "de-orbit burn" . It only slows down by about 200 m.p.h. in order to begin "falling" back to earth.
Why do astronauts float around in the shuttle instead of falling?
They are falling ! As you see them on TV floating around in the shuttle (or outside it), they are falling towards the earth. So is the shuttle, at exactly the same acceleration, which is why they seem to hover in mid-air; they are moving exactly in time with the shuttle. In fact, shuttle and astronauts are both moving; pretty fast, too, around 18,000 mph. And that is the big secret as to why they don't crash to earth. They are falling towards the earth's surface, but the surface of the earth is curved. Because they are travelling around the earth, it's surface is receding from them, and it just happens to be moving away at the same rate as the shuttle (and contents) are falling towards it. This is called an orbit, and it doesn't really "just happen"; the engineers who program the launch vehicle take some trouble to get the final velocity just right to achieve the orbit that they want.
Is there gravity where space shuttles orbit?
A very low level, called microgravity, that's a small fraction of normal gravity. Astronauts feel weightless, by comparison. Space shuttles orbit at a distance of 100-200 miles above the Earth. The shuttle is actually falling toward the Earth all the time, but the speed of its orbit keeps it from falling any closer. Don't confuse gravity with weight. The Earth's gravity extends to the outer reaches of the Solar System. Earth's gravity is what keeps the satellites which are orbiting the Earth from flying away into space. "Weight" is measure of the local acceleration due to gravity. When a person is in orbit, inside a shuttle, he is falling along with the shuttle at about 17,000 miles per hour. The mass of the shuttle and the mass of the person are attracting each other with 'micro-gravity' which is a million times less than the gravity of the Earth.
Explain why a space shuttle will stay in in orbit around the earth and will not fall to the earth?
The space shuttle is traveling at a speed such that its fall to earth matches the curvature of the earth. As a result, it is "falling" to the earth at the same rate that the earth's surface is rotating away, so it stays in orbit.
How does the space shuttle orbit the earth?
The shuttle is always falling via gravity, it's just so far up that it never falls to earth,but goes around and around.
How does gravity keeps the moon in the orbit?
The moon is falling, but since the Earth's gravitational pull is constantly acting on it, the moon keeps falling but it is moving towards the Earth so it move in an egg shaped motion.
After a shuttle is launched into orbit what happens to gravity?
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.
How does a space shuttle escape the earth orbit?
The shuttle never leaves Earth orbit, it simply goes into orbit and then returns. Moving to a higher orbit requires additional speed and manuevering, as when visiting the ISS.
What keeps the earth in orbit with the sun?
Gravity and Inertia keeps the earth in orbit
Does the space shuttle orbit the earth in what's called high orbit?
No. It is in low earth orbit.
How does a space shuttle leave space?
Easy the shuttle that is currently in orbit is going about 25,405 feet per second (17,322 statute miles per hour). In order to get back to Earth the shuttle will fire a In order to return to earth, the shuttle fires its Orbital Manuevering Engines (OMS) in the direction opposite to its orbit, also known as a "de-orbit burn" . It only slows down by about 200 m.p.h. in order to begin "falling" back to earth.
Why do astronauts float around in the shuttle instead of falling?
They are falling ! As you see them on TV floating around in the shuttle (or outside it), they are falling towards the earth. So is the shuttle, at exactly the same acceleration, which is why they seem to hover in mid-air; they are moving exactly in time with the shuttle. In fact, shuttle and astronauts are both moving; pretty fast, too, around 18,000 mph. And that is the big secret as to why they don't crash to earth. They are falling towards the earth's surface, but the surface of the earth is curved. Because they are travelling around the earth, it's surface is receding from them, and it just happens to be moving away at the same rate as the shuttle (and contents) are falling towards it. This is called an orbit, and it doesn't really "just happen"; the engineers who program the launch vehicle take some trouble to get the final velocity just right to achieve the orbit that they want.
How does earth stay in space and not fall?
The gravitational pull of the Sun keeps the planets in orbit without "falling." This is the same effect the Earth has on the Moon.
Who found that the force that keeps the planets in orbit around the sun and the moon in orbit around the earth and also acts upon bodies falling to earth is the same?
Sir Isaac Newton
