The rocket simply relies on its little rocket thrusters to move around.
Since the exosphere has no specific end, and it is almost into orbit, then yes. When a space shuttle reaches orbital velocity, it is going to fly past the exosphere. A space shuttle has never attained escape velocity that I know of. It is certainly capable, though. Also, a space shuttle can be flown in the exosphere without ever reaching orbit in some conditions. (i.e. if they launch at JFK in Florida and land at Edwards Air Base in California, because the earth moves counterclockwise. They could only be up there for a very short time, however.)
The space shuttle doesn't do much maneuvering in the outer layers of the Earth's atmosphere. Most of its maneuvering is done once it's passed through these layers due to the extreme temperatures experienced during this time.
Satellites and the space shuttle orbit in the thermosphere, a layer of the Earth's atmosphere located between the mesosphere and exosphere. Temperatures in the thermosphere can reach up to 2,500°C due to the absorption of solar radiation.
The exosphere is the top layer of the earth's atmosphere. It has a lower boundary of about 120 miles and a upper boundary of 120,000 miles (half-way to the moon). So the Space Shuttle spends almost all of its missions within the lower part of the Exosphere.
Exosphere
the exosphere.
exosphere
Firstly, the lower boundary of the exosphere is 600km so the Space shuttle would have no need to be orbiting in the exosphere. Most of the time the space shuttle missions are to the ISS which orbits at a height of 370km. This is in the Thermosphere (approx 100km - 600km). The purpose of its thrusters are to aid in takeoff, docking with satellites, and reducing its speed to begin re-entry into earth's atmosphere.
Since the exosphere has no specific end, and it is almost into orbit, then yes. When a space shuttle reaches orbital velocity, it is going to fly past the exosphere. A space shuttle has never attained escape velocity that I know of. It is certainly capable, though. Also, a space shuttle can be flown in the exosphere without ever reaching orbit in some conditions. (i.e. if they launch at JFK in Florida and land at Edwards Air Base in California, because the earth moves counterclockwise. They could only be up there for a very short time, however.)
The space shuttle doesn't do much maneuvering in the outer layers of the Earth's atmosphere. Most of its maneuvering is done once it's passed through these layers due to the extreme temperatures experienced during this time.
Satellites and the space shuttle orbit in the thermosphere, a layer of the Earth's atmosphere located between the mesosphere and exosphere. Temperatures in the thermosphere can reach up to 2,500°C due to the absorption of solar radiation.
99.99% of the time they fly to the ISS The International Space Station
The exosphere is the top layer of the earth's atmosphere. It has a lower boundary of about 120 miles and a upper boundary of 120,000 miles (half-way to the moon). So the Space Shuttle spends almost all of its missions within the lower part of the Exosphere.
She was the first female space shuttle pilot, first female space shuttle commander, and the first pilot to take the shuttle through a 360 degree pitch maneuver
Exosphere
The space shuttle travels in the thermosphere, which is the layer of the atmosphere located between the mesosphere and the exosphere. This is where most space shuttles orbit Earth at altitudes ranging from around 80 to 600 kilometers.
The space shuttle system is made up of three main components: the orbiter, the external tank, and the solid rocket boosters. These components work together to launch and maneuver the shuttle in space.