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Is a space shuttle a rocket?
The space shuttle is a reusable spacecraft. It has 3 main engines powered by liquid fuel which are used to launch it into orbit with help from similarly reusable solid fuel boosters (the white rockets along the side of the shuttle during launch). When returning after a mission, the space shuttle is unpowered and glides back for a landing. See related question.
What are 3 major NASA accidents resulting in loss of life?
Apollo 1 fire, killing all three astronauts. Space Shuttle Challenger Explosion, killing all seven astronauts. Space Shuttle Columbias Re-entry breakup, killing all seven astronauts.
Why is there so much smoke during space shuttle and rocket launches?
The majority of the white clouds seen during the first few seconds of a shuttle launch is actually steam, not smoke. To dampen the noise from the powerful rocket motors on the shuttle, approximately 400,000 gallons of water are sprayed underneath the exhaust for six seconds before launch and fifteen seconds afterward. When the hot exhaust hits the water it evaporates, making an enormous cloud which will eventually precipitate and turn into rain.Without this sound dampening system, the immense blast of noise from the shuttle launching would likely break windows for miles around the launch site. Additionally, a fair amount of steam is created by the engines of the shuttle. The external fuel tanks on the vehicle (one large orange tank and two thinner, white tanks known as Solid Rocket Boosters or SRBs) contain various propellants to shoot the shuttle into space. The large external tank contains liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen which is fed to the shuttle's main engines.Any good science student will know that water consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The combustion of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen creates water in its gaseous form, steam. This steam joins the cloud made by the noise dampening system and is carried away into the atmosphere.For further information, see a great page about the principles of rocketry by viewing the related links below.See Related LinksSee the Related Links for "Principles of Rocketry" to the bottom for the answer.
What color is ET first shuttle mission?
The external tank for the 1st shuttle mission was white. It was painted white for the historic first launch. All other missions have used the natural color of the external tank's foam to save the cost and weight that the paint added.
When did 3 astronauts die in a shuttle before it took off?
No fatalities have ever occurred on a shuttle prior to launch. 3 astronauts did die on January 27, 1967 during a test for the Apollo/Saturn-204 launch, also known as AS-204. Command Pilot Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Senior Pilot Edward H. White, and Pilot Roger B. Chaffee died when fire broke out inside the capsule. AS-204 was later officially renamed Apollo 1.
What is the source of the billows of white smoke that are seen when booster rockets ignite upon liftoff of space shuttle?
Some of it is from the vapors produced by the propellants in the solid rocket boosters (SRB's), but much is from the water that is dumped on the launch pad to dampen the vibrations during the launch. The SRB's combust ammonium perchlorate, aluminum, iron oxide, and a polymer. The shuttles main engines use liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen.
Is a space shuttle a rocket?
The space shuttle is a reusable spacecraft. It has 3 main engines powered by liquid fuel which are used to launch it into orbit with help from similarly reusable solid fuel boosters (the white rockets along the side of the shuttle during launch). When returning after a mission, the space shuttle is unpowered and glides back for a landing. See related question.
What are 3 major NASA accidents resulting in loss of life?
Apollo 1 fire, killing all three astronauts. Space Shuttle Challenger Explosion, killing all seven astronauts. Space Shuttle Columbias Re-entry breakup, killing all seven astronauts.
Why is there so much smoke during space shuttle and rocket launches?
The majority of the white clouds seen during the first few seconds of a shuttle launch is actually steam, not smoke. To dampen the noise from the powerful rocket motors on the shuttle, approximately 400,000 gallons of water are sprayed underneath the exhaust for six seconds before launch and fifteen seconds afterward. When the hot exhaust hits the water it evaporates, making an enormous cloud which will eventually precipitate and turn into rain.Without this sound dampening system, the immense blast of noise from the shuttle launching would likely break windows for miles around the launch site. Additionally, a fair amount of steam is created by the engines of the shuttle. The external fuel tanks on the vehicle (one large orange tank and two thinner, white tanks known as Solid Rocket Boosters or SRBs) contain various propellants to shoot the shuttle into space. The large external tank contains liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen which is fed to the shuttle's main engines.Any good science student will know that water consists of two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom. The combustion of liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen creates water in its gaseous form, steam. This steam joins the cloud made by the noise dampening system and is carried away into the atmosphere.For further information, see a great page about the principles of rocketry by viewing the related links below.See Related LinksSee the Related Links for "Principles of Rocketry" to the bottom for the answer.
What color is ET first shuttle mission?
The external tank for the 1st shuttle mission was white. It was painted white for the historic first launch. All other missions have used the natural color of the external tank's foam to save the cost and weight that the paint added.
When did 3 astronauts die in a shuttle before it took off?
No fatalities have ever occurred on a shuttle prior to launch. 3 astronauts did die on January 27, 1967 during a test for the Apollo/Saturn-204 launch, also known as AS-204. Command Pilot Virgil "Gus" Grissom, Senior Pilot Edward H. White, and Pilot Roger B. Chaffee died when fire broke out inside the capsule. AS-204 was later officially renamed Apollo 1.
Can Space shuttle launching cause earthquakes?
No, there is no way for a shuttle launch to cause an earthquake. They are very loud, but while they are close to the ground, a huge amount of water is poured under the flame. The white you see is steam, not smoke! This water keeps the rocket from destroying its pad, let alone causing earthquakes!
Where do the parts that detach from the space shuttle go?
The two white Solid Rocket Boosters land in the sea aided by drogue chutes, and are recovered by ships for return to their manufacturer to be prepared for re-use. The large External Fuel Tank burns up as it re-enters the atmosphere.
Why did they stop painting the large fuel tank on the space shuttle?
The large fuel tank of the space shuttle was painted white to protect it from thermal damage during launch and re-entry. However, engineers found that the weight of the paint added extra weight to the shuttle, reducing its payload capacity. Therefore, they stopped painting the fuel tank to save weight and increase efficiency.
What bears all the weight when the space shuttle is upright on the launch pad?
The shuttle is mounted on pedestals. The Solid Rocket Boosters (which are the white rockets on the side) are also clamped to the pad. See the images in the related links below to get a better idea. Zoom in.
What is the part of a shuttle that uses solid fuel?
At launch, there are two solid rocket boosters on either side of the external fuel tank. They are the white rockets that are attached to the orange fuel tank.
What are some of the launch sites and various landing sites?
The Kennedy Space Center was the only launch site for the Space Shuttle missions. There are landing sites all over the world, including Edwards Air Force Base and White Sands Space Harbor.
