not regulary. they mostly orbit the mesosphere
The atmosphere is divided in to five layers. These are Troposhere, Stratosphere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere and Exosphere. The space shuttles orbit in thermosphere.The atmosphere is divided in to five layers. These are Troposhere, Stratospere, Mesosphere, Thermosphere and Exosphere. The space shuttles orbit in thermosphere.
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 shuttle travels in the thermosphere, which is the layer of the atmosphere located between the mesosphere and the exosphere. This is where most space shuttles orbit Earth at altitudes ranging from around 80 to 600 kilometers.
Space shuttles operate primarily in the thermosphere, a layer of Earth's atmosphere that extends from about 80 kilometers (50 miles) to 600 kilometers (370 miles) above the surface. During launch, they pass through the troposphere and stratosphere before reaching the thermosphere, where they achieve low Earth orbit. In this region, they can travel at high speeds and conduct various missions, including satellite deployment and International Space Station resupply.
Thermosphere
Space shuttles typically orbited in the lower part of the thermosphere, at altitudes ranging from about 200 to 600 kilometers (approximately 124 to 373 miles) above Earth's surface. This region is characterized by increasing temperatures and decreasing atmospheric density. The specific orbital altitude allowed the shuttles to conduct various missions, including satellite deployment and scientific research.
Space shuttles fly in the thermosphere layer of the Earth's atmosphere, which is located between 80-550 kilometers above the Earth's surface. This layer is characterized by a very low density of gas molecules and high temperatures due to intense solar radiation.
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.
Space shuttles orbit the Earth in the thermosphere, which is a layer of the atmosphere located between about 80 and 600 kilometers (50 to 370 miles) above the Earth's surface. At these altitudes, the shuttle is above most of the atmospheric drag, allowing it to maintain its speed and altitude. The shuttle achieves orbit by traveling at high velocities, typically around 28,000 kilometers per hour (17,500 miles per hour), which creates a balance between gravitational pull and inertia, enabling it to stay in a continuous free-fall around the Earth. Despite the thin air in the thermosphere, the shuttle's speed ensures it remains in orbit without descending back to Earth.
Space shuttles typically operate in the thermosphere layer of the atmosphere, which extends from about 80 kilometers (50 miles) above the Earth's surface to between 550-1000 kilometers (340-620 miles) high. At these altitudes, the air is extremely thin, allowing the shuttles to operate efficiently in the near-vacuum conditions of space.
Since the exosphere has no specific end, and it is almost into orbit, then yes. When a space shuttle reaches orbital velocity, it is going to fly past the exosphere. A space shuttle has never attained escape velocity that I know of. It is certainly capable, though. Also, a space shuttle can be flown in the exosphere without ever reaching orbit in some conditions. (i.e. if they launch at JFK in Florida and land at Edwards Air Base in California, because the earth moves counterclockwise. They could only be up there for a very short time, however.)
Six space shuttles have landed on the moon. The space shuttles, however, were a part of the Space Shuttle program and were not designed to operate on the moon’s surface. They were primarily used for missions in low Earth orbit.