Space Shuttle

There were six space shuttles built between the late 70s and early 1990s. Their names are: Enterprise, Columbia, Challenger, Discovery,Atlantis and Endeavor.

The Enterprise flew several times on top of a modified Boeing 747 Jumbo Jet, and did glidding tests in the 70s, but never went into space. This tests lead to discovering problems with heat tiles falling off that were resolved in later shuttles.

Both the Challenger and the Columbia were lost in accidents, the Challenger as it took off from Florida, the Columbia as it re-entered the atmosphere.

The space shuttle system is made up of three main components: the orbiter, the external tank, and the solid rocket boosters. These components work together to launch and maneuver the shuttle in space.

There have been a total of 135 space shuttle launches. The first space shuttle launch occurred on April 12, 1981, and the final space shuttle mission was launched on July 8, 2011.

Discovery is NASA's oldest space shuttle and it has been in flight for more than 25 years. Currently, it has traveled 148,221,675 miles.

The Challenger space shuttle completed nine successful flights before the tragic Challenger disaster in 1986.

The space shuttle was a reusable spacecraft that launched vertically and landed like an airplane. It consisted of an orbiter, solid rocket boosters, and an external fuel tank. The orbiter housed the crew and payload, while the boosters provided additional thrust during liftoff. The shuttle utilized a combination of liquid fuel engines and solid rocket boosters to reach orbit, and then glided back to Earth for landing.

A space shuttle changes direction in space by firing its thrusters or using reaction wheels to adjust its orientation. Thrusters expel gas to generate thrust in a specific direction, while reaction wheels use conservation of angular momentum to rotate the spacecraft. These maneuvers allow the space shuttle to alter its trajectory or orientation as needed.

Space shuttle generally launches itself with just a boost from two solid rocket boosters(SRBs) that are dropped soon after start. The element that gives the appearance of big rocket is actually an external fuel tank.

The next shuttle to launch is Discovery, flying mission STS-133, and is currently planned to liftoff on 2 November 2010, at 4:18 pm.

The final missions scheduled for the space shuttle program are:

- Endeavor on STS-134, slated for launch 27 February 2011

- Atlantis on STS-135, slated for launch no earlier than 28 June 2011, but funding is pending the passage of an appropriations bill.

A shuttle, like the Space Shuttle, gets into space by being launched into the atmosphere with the help of powerful rockets. The rockets provide the necessary thrust and speed to overcome Earth's gravity and carry the shuttle into orbit around the planet. Once in orbit, the shuttle can maneuver and travel to its destination in space.

Atlantis is going to the Hubble Space Telescope. This will be the final servicing mission and no spacecraft will travel to Hubble after this.

The Canadarm, a robotic arm used for space missions, was designed by Canadians and was a key component of the US Space Shuttle program. It was used for tasks such as capturing and releasing satellites, assisting in spacewalks, and constructing the International Space Station.

Space shuttles travel in the thermosphere, which is the second highest layer of the Earth's atmosphere. This layer extends from about 80 km to 550 km above the Earth's surface and is where the International Space Station orbits.

The Space Task Group is established in the Late 1960's by Richard Nixon in order to brainstorm the future of America's space exploration.

The Space Shuttle Program was officially started on January 2, 1972 under President Nixon.

After countless problems were discovered and rectified, the first official Shuttle launch took place on April 12, 1981.

For the NASA webpage that highlights the history of the Space Shuttle Program click the following link:

http://history.nasa.gov/sts25th/history.html

For a .pdf listing of the missions click the following link:

http://www.nasa.gov/pdf/537939main_2011.05.09_SpaceShuttleWallChart.pdf

That's a matter of opinion. Here's mine:

Probably the V2 rocket that started it all. Or even the Saturn V - the rocket that

launched the Apollo capsules and Skylab. The US space shuttle and the Russian

Soyuz rocket are also very well-known.

Spacecraft use rockets to propel themselves into space by generating thrust to overcome Earth's gravity. Once in space, they can navigate using thrusters and guidance systems. Solar panels or onboard fuel cells provide power, and various systems maintain life support for astronauts on board.

The final space shuttle launch was on July 8, 2011. The shuttle Atlantis embarked on the STS-135 mission to the International Space Station, marking the end of NASA's Space Shuttle Program.

Various missions by space agencies such as NASA, ESA, and Roscosmos have explored space beyond the moon. These missions have sent spacecraft to planets like Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn, as well as to distant objects like asteroids and comets. Robotic probes like Voyager, Cassini, and New Horizons have provided valuable data about our solar system and beyond.

The space shuttle is launched into Outer Space by having it attached to the rocket that launches up as well as the space shuttle and gradually the rocket falls apart and lands in the Pacific ocean. It often lands there. The space shuttle then continues its mission alone.

The space shuttle typically traveled at speeds of around 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 kilometers per hour) to break through the Earth's atmosphere during launch. This high speed was necessary to overcome the force of gravity and enter into orbit around the Earth.

The Space Shuttle used to take off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. However, the Space Shuttle program ended in 2011. Rocket launches now take place from various locations around the world, depending on the spacecraft and mission.

A spacecraft needs a reliable propulsion system, life support systems for crew, communication equipment, power supply (such as solar panels or batteries), thermal control systems, navigation instruments, and payload storage for scientific instruments or supplies.

It is impossible to predict with certainty what will happen in the year 4900. As of now, our understanding of future events beyond a certain point is limited. It is likely that advancements in technology, society, and the environment will continue to shape and influence the world in unforeseeable ways.

The amount of gas needed for a 10-ton spaceship to reach outer space would depend on the type of propulsion system used, the distance to outer space, and other variables. Generally, it would require a significant amount of fuel to overcome Earth's gravity and reach escape velocity.