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Very hard to answer directly. That spacecraft could be reusable has many origins from Tsilokowski to Goddard, the Amerika Bomber to the DynaSoar. One can argue that the lifting body shapes of the X-planes were test articles for the later NASA program.
Most important is that under current propellants, at least 70% of the mass needed to achieve escape velocity is fuel. Second to that is re-usability and a big part of that is the velocity at reentry due to heating. Ballistic trajectories are high in thermodynamic values and different shapes, while more shallow angles allow for lower heating and more aerodynamic designs. Case in point, the Apollo heat shields were one off, hand injected phenolic while what became the space shuttle orbiter shields were silicon tiles for a lower temperature. This also meant that the orbiter would never reach beyond lower Earth orbits.
Several approaches were applied such as single stage to orbit (above mass ratio problem), a reusable booster stage that was recovered by flying back or as in reality solid rocket boosters recovered at sea, and the orbiter flying back to a runway. The cargo bay dimensions were laid down as the size of a railroad box literally. That required the size to be equivalent to a DC-8. Budget cuts under Nixon, Ford and Carter drove the rest.
What else can I help you with?
Who invented the first space shuttle?
The first space shuttle, known as the Space Shuttle Enterprise, was not designed for spaceflight. It was built by NASA and introduced in 1976 for atmospheric test flights to validate the shuttle's design and capabilities. The first space-flown shuttle was the Columbia, which was launched in 1981.
Where was the first space shuttle built?
The first space shuttle was built primarily in Palmdale, California at Rockwell's facility.
When was the first space shuttle invented?
The first space shuttle, the Space Shuttle Columbia, was developed by NASA and made its first test flight on April 12, 1981. It was a reusable spacecraft designed to carry astronauts and cargo to and from space.
What was the first space shuttle ever built?
The first space shuttle ever built was the Space Shuttle Enterprise. It was constructed as a prototype and test vehicle and never flew into space. Enterprise was used for approach and landing tests before the operational shuttle flights began with Columbia.
When was the space shuttle Atlantis built?
A: 1985 The space shuttle atlantis's first mission was sts-51-j.
Who invented the first space shuttle?
The first space shuttle, known as the Space Shuttle Enterprise, was not designed for spaceflight. It was built by NASA and introduced in 1976 for atmospheric test flights to validate the shuttle's design and capabilities. The first space-flown shuttle was the Columbia, which was launched in 1981.
Where was the first space shuttle built?
The first space shuttle was built primarily in Palmdale, California at Rockwell's facility.
When was the first space shuttle invented?
The first space shuttle, the Space Shuttle Columbia, was developed by NASA and made its first test flight on April 12, 1981. It was a reusable spacecraft designed to carry astronauts and cargo to and from space.
What was the first space shuttle ever built?
The first space shuttle ever built was the Space Shuttle Enterprise. It was constructed as a prototype and test vehicle and never flew into space. Enterprise was used for approach and landing tests before the operational shuttle flights began with Columbia.
When was the first space shuttle made?
The first space shuttle, STA-099, was built in the late 1970s.
When was the space shuttle Atlantis built?
A: 1985 The space shuttle atlantis's first mission was sts-51-j.
What was the last space shuttle ever built?
Space Shuttle Endeavour was the final Space Shuttle built. It was built to replace Space Shuttle Challenger.
Why was the first space shuttle built?
Enterprise was the first space shuttle orbiter built but it was used only for flight tests and was not capable of going into space. Columbia was the first orbiter built which was space worthy and launched on STS-1
Who invented the first space shuttle and when?
it was invented by many people
Who invented the challenger space shuttle?
The Challenger Space Shuttle was invented and put together by a team of designers and experts from NASA. The Challenger disaster happened on January 28, 1986.
When was the Challenger space shuttle built?
The Columbia shuttle was built first in April 12, 1981. The Columbia shuttle was built first in April 12, 1981.
When was the 'Columbia' space shuttle built?
The Columbia space shuttle was built in the 1970s and was the first operational space shuttle in NASA's fleet. It made its maiden flight on April 12, 1981.
