Space Shuttle

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.

You know you are in space when you are beyond Earth's atmosphere and not experiencing any air resistance or gravity. Typically, this is about 100 kilometers (62 miles) above Earth's surface, known as the Kármán line.

Yes, multi-stage rockets require more force to keep moving because they must first overcome the weight of the entire rocket, including the unused stages. As each stage is jettisoned, the remaining stages become lighter, making it easier to maintain acceleration.

A spaceship needs a life support system to sustain human life, propulsion system for movement, computers for navigation, communication systems for contact with Earth, and adequate supplies of food, water, and oxygen for the crew. Additional features may include radiation protection, thermal control systems, and waste management systems.

The thermosphere is the layer of Earth's atmosphere that is responsible for absorbing harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun. It is also where the auroras occur due to interactions with charged particles from the sun. Additionally, the thermosphere is where the International Space Station orbits.

No, it doesn't have engines like a plane, therefor, cannot fly like one. However, it does have flight control surfaces which are controlled by the pilot or the commander, so they fly it like a glider on the way back down and when it lands.

The first space shuttle, Enterprise, was designed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Its test flights began in 1977 as part of the approach and landing tests to validate the shuttle's ability to glide and land like an airplane.

The Space Shuttle Challenger exploded, 73 seconds into its flight, on 28-January-1986.

You need to stand far away from a shuttle launch to ensure safety in case of an explosion or malfunction. The intense heat and pressure generated by the launch can be dangerous, and standing at a distance minimizes the risk of harm from any debris.

in 1962 John Glenn rode Mercury six and lasted 5hrs

The space shuttle Endeavour was named after the HMS Endeavour, the ship commanded by James Cook on his first voyage of discovery in the 18th century. NASA chose this name to symbolize the spirit of exploration and discovery that characterized both the ship and the space shuttle.

When the space shuttle takes off, the astronauts experience 9 times the normal force of gravity on earth.

At launch the gravity that they experience is about 1.7 g's and by the time the solid rocket boosters are separated which is two minutes into the launch the g-force will be over 2 g's. At the separation of the solid rocket booster, the g-force will decrease to just over 1 g. During the last one minute of the ascent, which is for 8.5 minutes, when the main engines ignited the last full minute, we will experience about 3 g's, and when the main engines cut off around 8 minutes, 30 seconds, you go right into zero-g and everything starts to float around.

The Shuttle and the ISS orbit in the thermosphere or ionosphere (I think both terms are correct, not sure but I've heard both). This layer starts at 85km and goes up to 600km, after which is the exosphere. "Space" technically starts at 100km. The ISS orbits around 350km, and obviously so does the Shuttle when it is docked, although when it first gets in to orbit the Shuttle is only at about 150km and speeds up over the few days after launch to match its orbit with the ISS.

It is still atmosphere because there are stray atoms of oxygen and such up there. In fact there is enough of it that periodically the ISS has to speed itself back up because even though the amount of drag is infinitesimal, it still slows it down slightly over time.

It is a little burnt but the launch pad is designed to take extreme heat and pressure created by the space shuttle. If it wasn't, they would have to make a new launch pad every launch and those things are worth a pretty penny...

Solid rocket boosters provide additional thrust during liftoff to help launch the space shuttle into orbit. They are also more cost-effective and reliable than liquid-fueled rockets. Additionally, the boosters can be jettisoned after use, contributing to the shuttle's overall efficiency.

Astronauts who have traveled to space aboard the space shuttle have seen the stars from the spacecraft's windows. Seeing the stars from space is a unique and awe-inspiring experience that very few people have had the opportunity to witness.

The primary purpose of the Enterprise space shuttle was to perform atmospheric test flights without going into space. It was used to validate the spacecraft's design and aerodynamics for future missions.

The Apollo 11 mission, not a space shuttle, was involved in the first lunar landing. The lunar module named "Eagle" carried astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin to the Moon's surface on July 20, 1969.

A space shuttle re-enters Earth's atmosphere at around 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 kilometers per hour). During descent, it sheds speed and eventually lands at a speed of about 200-300 miles per hour (320-480 kilometers per hour).

When the space shuttle is orbiting the Earth, the effect of microgravity is caused by the spacecraft and everything inside it being in free fall towards the Earth. The sensation of weightlessness occurs because both the shuttle and any objects inside are falling at the same rate, creating the illusion of zero gravity.

The space shuttle moves by using its engines to lift off from Earth, then travels through space by following a predetermined flight path. In orbit, the shuttle moves at a speed of around 17,500 miles per hour in order to maintain its trajectory around the Earth. During reentry, the shuttle uses its heat shield to protect itself from the intense heat generated by atmospheric friction.

No, the Space Shuttle was designed to operate in the Earth's atmosphere and would not be able to withstand the extreme conditions on Venus, including its thick atmosphere and high temperatures. Additionally, the Shuttle's thermal protection system is not designed for such a mission.

The space shuttle program ended in 2011, so there are no more planned space shuttle flights. NASA has shifted its focus to other spacecraft and rockets for future missions to space.

A leak in one of the fuel tanks ignited... if you watch a video on youtube you can see smoke coming out of the side (You have to look very hard). Midflight, the fuel tank exploded. Interestingly, when recovery crews found the crew module, they saw that they drowned in the capsule when they hit the ocean, rather than get burned by fire or from the shock of the explosion.

Yes, space shuttles contribute to environmental harm through emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants during launch. Additionally, the disposal of spent rocket stages in orbit can contribute to space debris, which poses a threat to ongoing space missions and the sustainability of space activities.