Space Shuttle

The Orbiters carry the Astronauts (Command Crew and Mission Specialists) in the main Crew Cabin, which is a separate compartment and highly survivable in an accident in Earth atmophere. Several of the Challenger crew were known to have survived the initial breakup of the Orbiter after the SRB/MFT explosion, only dying after impact with the water.

All mission equipment and satellites (tools, protective enclosures (MOPE, SOPE, etc.) as well as experiments and satellites are carried in the Shuttle Payload Bay. All items are processed in clean rooms, and a huge mobile clean room is rolled into place over the payload bay to assemble and install all items in preparation for an upcoming launch. The process usually takes around a month.

If you click on my Supervisor bio link, you can see pictures of various stages of the Hubble Space Telescope NICMOS Cryocooler and Capillary Pumped Loop panel in various stages of production before being loaded on a shuttle for the Hubble Orbital Systems Test, aboard the flight that carried John Glenn back to space in 1999.

The Columbia space shuttle was part of NASA's Space Shuttle program, designed for conducting various scientific research experiments, deploying satellites, and servicing the International Space Station. It also played a crucial role in advancing space exploration and carrying astronauts to and from space.

Yes, the NASA space shuttle was capable of reaching escape velocity from Earth. It typically needed a combination of its rocket boosters and main engines to achieve the necessary speed to break free from Earth's gravitational pull and reach space.

The wings of a space shuttle are primarily used for atmospheric flight and re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. During most of its mission in space, the shuttle operates in the vacuum of space where wings are not necessary for propulsion or maneuvering. However, they are crucial for controlled descent and landing back on Earth.

The Apollo spacecraft traveled at speeds of around 25,000 miles per hour (40,000 kilometers per hour) during its journey to the Moon. The fastest speed reached by humans in space was during the Apollo 10 mission, when the spacecraft reached a speed of about 24,791 miles per hour (39,897 kilometers per hour).

Canada is responsible for manufacturing the Canadarm, a robotic arm used on the space shuttle for tasks such as capturing and positioning payloads. They also built the Canadarm2, an upgraded version used on the International Space Station for assembly and maintenance activities.

No, the Russian space station Mir was deorbited and intentionally burned up in Earth's atmosphere in 2001 after 15 years in orbit. It re-entered the Earth's atmosphere and its debris fell into the South Pacific Ocean.

Yes, the space shuttle glides to Earth during its descent after re-entering the atmosphere. It uses its aerodynamic design to create lift and control its descent similar to an airplane. By gliding, the shuttle can make precise landings at designated landing sites.

The first Space Shuttle launch from Launch Pad 39-B was STS-51L on January 28, 1986. However STS-51L ended in disaster when the space shuttle Challenger disintegrated over the Atlantic ocean. A total of 53 space shuttle missions have launched from pad 39-B, although no more are planned in the future. In the future, pad 39-B is planned to be used for Ares I launches.

The two space shuttles that met with disaster were Challenger, which exploded shortly after launch in 1986, and Columbia, which disintegrated upon re-entry in 2003. Both tragedies resulted in the loss of all crew members on board.

The 2 Reusable Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB's) detach from the side of the Main Fuel Tank and deploy parachutes shortly after they're clear and land in the ocean. The Shuttle is always launched over the ocean, either on an Eastern downrange trajectory, or if required, up the coast on a Northern trajectory for a pole-pole orbital path. This is specifically in case there is an accident during launch to limit any collateral damage from debris and burning solid rocket fuel, which can't be put out (it has its own oxidizer). I remember having to go down to the Cape to receive some tools for the Astronauts in '97 just prior to the 2nd Hubble Servicing Mission, and a Delta rocket launch the day before had ended in an explosion just 1,000 feet above the ground. The area was littered with burned cars and buildings from the solid fuel that rained down, still burning hot.

After they've landed in the water, they're recovered by 2 ships specifically designed for the task, the R/V (Recovery Vessel) Liberty Star and the R/V Freedom Star. Once recovered, they're brought back to Kennedy Space Center to prep for shipment back to their prime contractor for inspection, repair, maintenance and loaded again with solid fuel for the next use.

The space shuttle didn't go to the moon. But the Apollo 11 trip took four days.

Yes, the space shuttle was a spacecraft used by NASA to send astronauts and cargo into space. The space shuttle program ended in 2011. Today, different spacecraft, such as SpaceX's Crew Dragon and Boeing's Starliner, are used to transport astronauts to space.

The International Space Station is in a low Earth orbit between 199 mi and 216 mi. To maintain this orbit, the space station has to travel at a speed of about 17,500 miles per hour.

If a spacecraft was launched sideways off the Earth with a low velocity, gravity would pull it towards the ground. If the spacecraft was launched at a faster velocity, it would hit the ground at a farther distance because the ground would be curving away at a faster rate. However if the spacecraft was launched fast enough, the Earth would constantly curve away as the spacecraft falls indefinitely. The spacecraft would be in orbit. The speed required for the International Space Station to orbit is 17,500 miles per hour. The higher an object's orbit is, the slower it has to travel to maintain that orbit.

Space shuttles have the advantage of being reusable, which can lead to cost savings over time compared to expendable rockets. Additionally, shuttles have the ability to transport larger payloads and crew members. They also offer more flexibility in terms of being able to return to Earth and land on a runway like an airplane.

The Shuttles, like most launch vehicles, are essentially controlled explosions, using directed energy from volatile chemical combustion to propel them into space.

The Shuttles use 2 external, reusable, Solid Fuel Rocket Boosters (SRB's) which are attached to an external fuel tank which contains separate internal tanks of Liquid Oxygen and Liquid Hydrogen, as well as other rocket propellants. The SRB's separate from the external tank, deploy parachutes when clear, and are recovered in the ocean by 2 specially designed recovery vessels.

The Lox/LH fuel is what the Shuttle Main Engines use for fuel during launch; along with the thrust from the SRB's, it's enough to propel it into orbit, and pretty fast too. Watching a Shuttle launch on TV is deceiving, since NASA's long-range cameras keep the Shuttle in view for a lot longer than the visible eye can see it from Kennedy Space Center. Seeing a launch from KSC, the Shuttle is out of view within less than 90 seconds, even at night.

The launch facility is pretty interesting; the Shuttles are moved from the Vertical Assembly Building (VAB), originally built to assemble the Saturn V Moon rockets, on a huge crawler that serves as its launch platform, out to one of 2 main pads at KSC, Pad 39A or 39B. There is a huge concrete engine blast redirection/water muffler system in place below where the Shuttle sits; just prior to Main Engine/SRB ignition, water from a huge tank is dumped into the area just below the Shuttle to muffle the noise from the engines and SRB's. The white cloud seen at launch isn't from the engines or SRB's; it's from the water being turned to steam. Without the water system, the launch noise would be much louder than it is already.

There is also an Astronaut Emergency Egress System in place on the service gantry, which is a long cable slide system that takes them to an Armored Personnel Carrier located on the ground a few hundred yards away. It's more psychological than practical though.

What most people don't know also is that the entire service gantry that fuels and provides service access to the Shuttle must be completely repainted after each launch, since the heat from the engines SRB's burns off most of the paint, and blackens the rest that isn't.

A space shuttle re-entering Earth's atmosphere typically takes about 30 minutes to reach the Earth's surface once it begins its descent. The exact time can vary depending on the angle of re-entry and the specifics of the descent trajectory chosen.

A space shuttle stays warm using thermal protection tiles on its surface that minimize heat loss to the cold environment of space. Additionally, spacecraft use internal heating systems to regulate temperature, powered by electricity generated from the onboard fuel cells or solar panels.

For launches from Cape Canaveral, search "Kennedy Space Center Launch Schedule" and find the "View Rocket Launch Schedule" link. There you will find a calendar with upcoming dates flagged, with info on the flights. Right now a Delta V rocket is planned for liftoff on 4 November 2010.

A series of suborbital tests carried out by NASA in the 1960s to evaluate various types of heat ablative materials (ablation) and atmospheric reentry technology, particularly in preparation for the Apollo program. The nosecones of the Scout rockets used in these tests were coated in heat-shield ablators and then caused to reenter the atmosphere at around 28,000 km/h - the speed of reentry after a lunar excursion.

The current International Space Station (ISS) is a joint project involving multiple countries and has been continuously inhabited since 2000. It is larger, more technologically advanced, and serves as a platform for scientific research in various fields. Previous space stations, such as Russia's Mir and the United States' Skylab, were smaller, had shorter operational lifespans, and were not as internationally collaborative.

the space shuttle takes off like a rocket flies around the earth like a bird and lands like an airoplane

The salvaged remains of the Space Shuttle Challenger are stored in a missile silo at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Some parts are also held in storage at NASA facilities and museums for research and educational purposes.

The space shuttle doesn't do much maneuvering in the outer layers of the Earth's atmosphere. Most of its maneuvering is done once it's passed through these layers due to the extreme temperatures experienced during this time.

If a space shuttle lost its forward motion in space, it would continue along its trajectory due to its velocity and inertia. However, without forward propulsion, it would eventually experience the effects of Earth's gravity and begin to fall towards the planet. Without corrective action or propulsion to counteract this, it would eventually re-enter Earth's atmosphere and burn up.