What is on the outside of a Space Shuttle?
Why do space shuttles go sideways?
Rockets have to tilt to the side as they travel into the sky in order to reach orbit, or a circular path of motion around the Earth. This steering technique is known as a gravity turn, which uses Earth's gravity to help conserve rocket fuel and minimize stress and strain on the spacecraft.May 22, 2014
What are the parts of a Space Shuttle?
The Space Shuttle consists of three major components: the Orbiter which houses the crew; a large External Tank that holds fuel for the main engines; and two Solid Rocket Boosters which provide most of the Shuttle's lift during the first two minutes of flight.
What are the dimensions of the Space Shuttle?
How big is the shuttle? The shuttle measures 122.2 feet long, 56.67 feet high, with wingspan of 78.06 feet. The height of the full shuttle stack, including the external fuel tank, is 184.2 feet. Gross weight is 4.5 million pounds at liftoff.Jul 8, 2005
Why are space shuttles white?
The first two, used for STS-1 and STS-2, were painted white to protect the tanks from ultraviolet light during the extended time that the shuttle spends on the launch pad prior to launch.
How cold is space?
Hot things move quickly, cold things very slowly. If atoms come to a complete stop, they are at absolute zero. Space is just above that, at an average temperature of 2.7 Kelvin (about minus 455 degrees Fahrenheit).Feb 28, 2020
Can you go straight up in space?
If it travelled straight up into space, earth's gravity would eventually pull it back down. Hence, the rocket must eventually turn sideways. Hypothetically, in fact, if the earth were a perfect sphere with no atmosphere it would be possible to orbit just a foot above the ground, as long as you were going fast enough.
Why do rockets not fall over?
Rockets are usually tethered with explosive bolts or big clamps. So thats how rocket assemblies don't fall over. Imagine the huge stresses on these bolts and clamps when those massive engines are firing up to full power, and then the sudden acceleration when they are all let go.Dec 15, 2017
Why does the space shuttle launch upside down?
When the Shuttle prepares to depart it's position orbiting the Earth, the first thing it must do is slow down. The Shuttle is slowed by firing the two smallest of the five nozzles on the back of the craft. The deceleration provided 'flips' the Space Shuttle over by standing it on end, which puts the belly down.
Can space shuttle fly moon?
Can the Space Shuttle fly to the Moon? A. No, the Shuttle is designed to travel to low-Earth orbit (within a few hundred miles of the Earth's surface). It does not carry enough propellant to leave Earth orbit and travel to the Moon.
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Do space shuttles return to Earth?
Once the orbiter is tail first, the crew fires the OMS engines to slow the orbiter down and fall back to Earth; it will take about 25 minutes before the shuttle reaches the upper atmosphere. ...
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Can space shuttle transport people?
space shuttle, also called Space Transportation System, partially reusable rocket-launched vehicle designed to go into orbit around Earth, to transport people and cargo to and from orbiting spacecraft, and to glide to a runway landing on its return to Earth's surface that was developed by the U.S. National Aeronautics ...
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How many people fit inside a space shuttle?
A space shuttle crew is typically five to seven crewmembers. We have carried as few as two and as many as eight at one time, and space shuttle missions have been as short as two days and as long as 18 days.
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In which layer do space shuttles fly?
Above: The space shuttle orbits in the thermosphere, a tenuous layer of our atmosphere that gets hotter and expands during solar maximum. The puffed-up thermosphere increases drag on Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellites.May 29, 2000
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How fast is a space shuttle?
A. Like any other object in low-Earth orbit, a Space Shuttle must reach speeds of about 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 kilometers per hour) to remain in orbit.Aug 3, 2017
