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Weightlessness is a measure of how much resistance there is between an object and the local gravity. If you are standing on the ground, then there is 100% resistance between you and the pull of gravity. Your weight is equal to the pull of gravity on your mass. When you jump off a tall object, you are falling. You feel weightless because there is no resistance between you and the pull of gravity.
When you are in a shuttle orbiting the Earth, both you and the Shuttle are falling in such a way that you never hit the ground. This is called an orbit. You feel weightless because you are falling. You just never hit the bottom like you would on Earth.
What else can I help you with?
When did the Columbia Shuttle accident occur?
The Columbia Shuttle disaster happened February 1, 2003. The shuttle disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana while returning from a space mission. Sadly, all those on board lost their lives.
When the earth the moon and the sun are in line what can occur?
When the Earth, Sun and Moon are in line an eclipse can occur.
Is the ISS a geostationary orbit or a polar orbit?
Neither. A polar orbit means that the station orbits at an inclination of about 90 degrees North (or South). This can occur at any reasonable altitude (apogee or perigee), typically around 250 and 350 miles. A geostationary orbit MUST have an inclination of 0 degrees--above the equator; AND have an apogee/perigee between 22,000--23,000 miles. The ISS was built and intended to be visited by the Space Shuttle. The Space Shuttle was incapable of orbiting higher than 500 miles. So if the ISS were in a geosynchronous orbit, the Shuttle could never have reached it. One of the disadvantages of a polar orbit is that one loses the velocity benefit of Earth's Eastward rotation. It takes extra fuel to place the same payload at the same altitude in a polar orbit, versus a typical Eastward orbit. The ISS is in a Low-Earth orbit with an apogee/perigee of about 250 miles, and an inclination of about 57 degrees.
Do all space shuttle launches occur in Florida US?
No, not all space shuttle launches occurred in Florida. While the majority of space shuttle launches took place at Kennedy Space Center in Florida, there were also some launches conducted from the Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.
Why are there two sonic booms when the space shuttle lands?
From NOVA: Because the Space Shuttle is so large (122 ft long), you will hear the sonic booms created by both the nose and tail shock waves (they occur about one-half second apart). All supersonic airplanes produce two sonic booms, but because they happen so close to each other, you hear them as one sound.
How does weightlessness occur?
When a force is present to oppose that of gravity. eg > Upthrust on a body in a liquid (body in a swimming pool) Centripetal force ( orbiting satellite or space station)
Do Circular motion occurs only on earth?
No, circular motion can occur in both natural and artificial systems, not just on Earth. Objects like planets orbiting around the sun and satellites orbiting the Earth are examples of circular motion occurring in space.
Does a sonic boom occur every time the shuttle enters earth?
A sonic boom occurs when an object travels faster than the speed of sound. If the space shuttle enters Earth's atmosphere at a speed greater than the speed of sound, it will create a sonic boom. However, the shuttle typically slows down as it enters the atmosphere to avoid this effect.
Do other planets orbiting stars have seasons or eclipses?
Its most likely that they do. Any planet with an axial tilt will have seasons throughout its orbit. Eclipses of orbiting moons are also likely to occur on these exoplanets, though it would be rare to find an orbiting moon that is almost the same apparent size as the star - as with Earth.
Why doesn't a lunar or solar eclipse occur every 15 days?
The orbit of the moon is not perfectly uniform about the earth (the same can be said about the planets orbiting the sun). The alignment of the earth moon and sun has to be perfect for an eclipse to occur, it rarely is though.
What is the meaning of the expression 'window' in the context of a space shuttle landing?
'Window', when referring to a shuttle landing, refers to the period of time when a de-orbit burn can occur to enable the shuttle to land at one of the preferred landing sites (Kennedy Space Center is first, and Edwards Airforce Base if conditions are unsuitable at KSC). Usually there are only about three windows on a particular day on which the burn can occur. Should these be missed on each of the suitable orbits, the window for that day will be past, and more windows not available until the next day due to the earth's rotation and the shuttle's path around the earth.
Why does nuclear fusion not occur on earth?
Because the conditions of temperature and pressure that occur in stars do not occur on earth
When did the Columbia Shuttle accident occur?
The Columbia Shuttle disaster happened February 1, 2003. The shuttle disintegrated over Texas and Louisiana while returning from a space mission. Sadly, all those on board lost their lives.
How does night and day occur?
Day and night occur because the earth rotates around its axis once every 24 hours. During each rotation the part of the earth facing the sun receives the light from the sun, and this is called day. The side facing away from the sun is cast in shadow and this is called night.
When did the Columbia disaster occur?
The shuttle burned up on re-entry on the morning of February 1st, 2003.
How do most elements on earth occur?
Most elements on the Earth occur as oxides or silicates.
What is the distance from earths surface for zero gravity of an object?
Zero gravity does not occur at a specific distance from the Earth's surface. The sensation of weightlessness experienced by objects or astronauts in space is due to being in free fall towards Earth while moving forward with enough velocity to stay in orbit. This can happen at various distances from the Earth's surface, depending on the object's speed and trajectory.
