That apparent course is actually more to do with the fact that the shuttle and most satellites orbit the earth at angles to both the lines of latitude and longitude. Also there is the factor that Earth is rotating as they orbit. It is a combination of the two, shown on a two-dimensional screen that gives the apparent serpentine orbit, although that is not what is actually happening.
Combination of gravity and the shuttle's inertia creates a curved path parallel to Earth's surface.
More information on Space Shuttlehttp://www.onestopsolver.com/space-shuttle-orbit-flight-path.html
The amount of gravitational force acting on the space shuttle in orbit is still significant, approximately 90% of the force experienced on the surface of the Earth. This force is what keeps the shuttle and astronauts in orbit around the Earth, counteracting the centripetal force that tries to pull them away.
The height of the typical space shuttle orbit is around 300 kilometers (186 miles) above the Earth's surface. This height allows the shuttle to orbit within the Earth's atmosphere yet still be in microgravity conditions.
200-300 nautical miles depending on the mission
Combination of gravity and the shuttle's inertia creates a curved path parallel to Earth's surface.
More information on Space Shuttlehttp://www.onestopsolver.com/space-shuttle-orbit-flight-path.html
The amount of gravitational force acting on the space shuttle in orbit is still significant, approximately 90% of the force experienced on the surface of the Earth. This force is what keeps the shuttle and astronauts in orbit around the Earth, counteracting the centripetal force that tries to pull them away.
The term for the shape or configuration of landforms on Earth's surface is topography. Topography includes features like mountains, valleys, slopes, and plains.
The space shuttle landed on Earth, so yes.
The height of the typical space shuttle orbit is around 300 kilometers (186 miles) above the Earth's surface. This height allows the shuttle to orbit within the Earth's atmosphere yet still be in microgravity conditions.
200-300 nautical miles depending on the mission
The space shuttle travels in the Earth's orbit, typically at an altitude of around 250 miles above the Earth's surface. It orbits the Earth at a speed of approximately 17,500 miles per hour, allowing it to counteract the pull of gravity and remain in orbit.
The astronauts in the space shuttle experience less centripetal acceleration compared to a person standing on the surface of the Earth. This is because the centripetal acceleration experienced depends on the speed of rotation and radius of the orbit, which are greater on the surface of the Earth than in space.
A space shuttle remains in orbit due to a balance between its forward motion and the downward pull of Earth's gravity. The shuttle's speed allows it to continually fall toward Earth while also moving tangentially, creating a curved path around the planet. This balance of speed and gravity results in the shuttle orbiting Earth rather than falling back to the surface.
It takes a space shuttle about 8 to 9 minutes to reach outer space once it launches from Earth. This is typically when the shuttle reaches an altitude of about 100 kilometers (62 miles) above the Earth's surface.
The Space Shuttle orbited at an altitude of around 185 kilometers (115 miles) to 643 kilometers (400 miles) above Earth's surface.