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The shuttle uses the atmosphere to slow itself down from orbital speed.

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Why does the space shuttle need tiles?

The tiles on the space shuttle form a heat shield. The shuttle enters the Earth's atmosphere at high speed, which creates very high temperatures that would burn up the vehicle if it was not protected.


How fast does a space shuttle reenter the earths atmosphere?

A space shuttle reenters the Earth's atmosphere at a speed of around 17,500 miles per hour. The high speed generates intense heat, which is why the shuttle needs heat shields to protect it during reentry. The spacecraft gradually slows down as it descends through the atmosphere.


How high in the earths atmosphere does a space shuttle travel?

230 miles out into space


Which layer of the atmosphere does the space shuttle travel in?

The space shuttle travels in the thermosphere layer of the atmosphere, which is the layer located above the mesosphere. This layer is where temperatures can reach very high levels due to its proximity to space.


What does it feel like when a space shuttle break through earths atmosphere?

During reentry, the space shuttle experiences intense heat and pressure as it breaks through Earth's atmosphere. The crew inside may feel vibrations and turbulence as the shuttle slows down rapidly due to atmospheric drag. It's like hitting a speed bump at high speed.


How fast does a space shuttle travel in earths atmosphere?

A space shuttle reentering Earth's atmosphere travels at speeds around 17,500 miles per hour. This high speed generates intense heat due to friction with the air, causing the iconic glowing plasma trail behind the shuttle.


How does a space shuttle cause friction?

A space shuttle still has to leave the atmosphere, we aren't building them in space. While leaving the atmosphere a space shuttle causes a lot of friction as it rubs against the air on the way up.


What kind of environment is space shuttle reentry?

When in the orbit, space shuttles kinetic energy is in large amounts. The energy must the disposed for a safe landing. Reentry space shuttles must show blunt shapes for the heat energy to be released into the atmosphere.


How does the space shuttle return to earth?

The STS or Space Shuttle uses a glide recovery system (like an airplane) to return and land on the ground. In the end, it is assisted by a parachute (only to decrease the speed of the shuttle at landing.)When given the command from Houston, it will slam into Earth's atmosphere. This will create enough friction between the Space Shuttle and Earth's atmosphere to heat the Shuttle's belly to 3,000+ F. The Shuttle will then glide to it's landing runway in either California or Florida, and land like an airplane.


What creates the heat while a space shuttle is leaving the atmosphere?

Friction between the space shuttle and the atmosphere generates heat during reentry. The high speeds at which the shuttle travels cause air molecules to compress and heat up, leading to the fiery heat shield protecting the spacecraft.


What happens when a space shuttle enters the atmosphere?

When a space shuttle enters the Earth's atmosphere, it experiences extreme heat and friction due to the high speeds it is traveling at. This creates a plasma sheath around the shuttle which can interfere with communications. The shuttle also begins to slow down due to atmospheric drag.


What is the average speed of a space shuttle?

The average speed of a space shuttle in Earth's orbit is approximately 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 kilometers per hour). This speed allows the shuttle to maintain its orbit around the Earth while traveling at a high velocity.