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Why does the space shuttle's orbit apparently follow a wave pattern?
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
I think you mean, :why does the orbit of satellites, etc. look like a sine wave? Well, every orbit around the earth looks like a circular (or elliptical ring) whose center (or focus) is at the center of the earth. An orbit exactly above the equator is one such orbit, but any orbit can be tilted as long as the center (or focus) stays at the earth's center and the whole orbit is flat like a disk. On various maps this makes the orbit look like a wave, but on a globe it stays a flat circle (or ellipse).
Wiki User
∙ 16y ago
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Where have space shuttles been?
only to low Earth orbit.
How long will a space shuttles fuel last?
Probably a few minutes. Note that once the space shuttle is in orbit, it doesn't need fuel to stay in orbit.
How much time does it take for a space shuttle to get to the moon?
Space shuttles were built for low earth orbit. Not to goto the moon
Do space shuttles use fuel?
Space shuttles use fuel when taking off and for control while in orbit, deorbiting, and landing. The main takeoff engines use liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, and there are two solid-fuel rocket boosters. In orbit, the shuttle uses thrusters that burn hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide.
Did any space shuttle gone to Pluto?
No. Space shuttles do not have the capability to travel so far. They are designed for low earth orbit.
Do Space shuttles orbit in the thermosphere?
not regulary. they mostly orbit the mesosphere
How do shuttles land on other planets?
They don't. The shuttles were designed for Earth Orbit only.
Where have space shuttles been?
only to low Earth orbit.
Which atmospheric layer is where space shuttles orbit?
The atmosphere is divided in to five layers. These are Troposhere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere and Exosphere. The space shuttles orbit in thermosphere.The atmosphere is divided in to five layers. These are Troposhere, Stratospere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere and Exosphere. The space shuttles orbit in thermosphere.
How long will a space shuttles fuel last?
Probably a few minutes. Note that once the space shuttle is in orbit, it doesn't need fuel to stay in orbit.
Where did spaceship Columbia travel to?
Columbia was a Space Shuttle. Space Shuttles travel to an orbit around the Earth and return.
Why cant space shuttles be made larger and larger?
Simply because of the amount of energy required to put it into orbit.
Which orbits the earth space shuttle or space station?
Well both do...the shuttles go in to orbit and return (at least they used to when NASA was still flying them), the ISS is left in orbit
How much time does it take for a space shuttle to get to the moon?
Space shuttles were built for low earth orbit. Not to goto the moon
Who made the first space shuttle succesfully?
The USA's Enterprise was the first shuttle but was built in 1976 as a test platform for the future shuttle fleet. The Challenger was the first to achieve Earth orbit in 1981. Of the Soviet fleet of shuttles, only one acheved Earth orbit and successful reentry, but this occured much later, when the USSR decided the US shuttles represented a serious security threat. The Soviet shuttles were moth-balled upon the collapse of the CCCP (Union of Soviet Socialist Republics). No other countries have built successful shuttles.
Do space shuttles use fuel?
Space shuttles use fuel when taking off and for control while in orbit, deorbiting, and landing. The main takeoff engines use liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen, and there are two solid-fuel rocket boosters. In orbit, the shuttle uses thrusters that burn hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide.
How do space shuttles operate?
The space shuttles were launched by liquid fuel engines along with solid fuel boosters to get them into orbit. That also provided the initial speed of over 17,000 mph that keeps them orbit without any additional use of the engines. Once in orbit they used orbital maneuvering engines to change their orientation as well provide the slow down required to bring them back to Earth.
