Introduction
Rockets are essential for space travel, providing the thrust needed to escape the pull of Earth's gravity. However, rocket launches are incredibly expensive, especially as most of the vehicle is destroyed in the launch procedure! Engineers designed the space transport system, often called the space shuttle, to be re used mission after mission and cut costs.
Anatomy of a shuttle
The space transport system(STS), better known as the Space Shuttle, is made up of three main parts. The largest section of the Shuttle is the main external fuel tank. This is taller than a 15-storey building and is the only section of the shuttle that cannot be re-used. It is jettisoned after eight minutes and burns up as re-enters in the Earth Atmosphere. The solid fuel tank rocket boosters propel the Rocket to a height of 45 Km (28 miles) before they are dropped into the pacific ocean to be picked up and re-used.
The orbiter is the main section of the Shuttle, Housing the crew and the payload bay, where the shuttle's cargo is kept. The Shuttle only carries one orbiter at a Time, but there are four to choose from, and each has a payload bay that can hold five cars end to end.
Lift-Off
A Space Shuttle launch is an incredible sight. Plumes of fire blast from the rocket boosters as shuttle lifts skywards. The Shuttle's weight on Earth is more than Two million Kg, So vehicle's journey into space starts quite slowly. It takes eight seconds to accelerate to 160 Km/h, but soon speed up. After one minute, the shuttle has accelerated to an incredible 1,600 Km/h. These awesome speeds are needed if the craft is to leave Earth's atmosphere. To achieve orbit, the shuttle must be travelling at 30,000 Km/h. This is ten times faster than a bullet!
Re-Entry
Re-entering the Earth's atmosphere is a dangerous procedure. The Shuttle begins to slow down half a world away from its destination-the runway at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. Because the shuttle is travelling so quickly, it doesn't need a giant glider, using air to slow it down as it heads for home. Tiny particles in the Earth's atmosphere collide with the shuttle as it charges downwards, creating heat through friction. Temperature on the Shuttle's wing tips tips and nose can reach a searing 1,700 degree Celsius!
Some More Facts
1) The space Shuttle blasts off from the launch tower.
2) The Fuel in the rocket boosters is used up and they are jettisoned. They fall back to Earth, using parachutes, to be recycled.
3) The external fuel tank is released. It burns up in the atmosphere.
4) The orbiter reaches a low-Earth orbit.
5) The orbiter may stay in space for over two weeks, doing variety of tasks. These may include deploying satellites or carrying astronauts to repair equipment on the Hubble Space Telescope.
6) The orbiter positions itself ready for the return journey to earth.
7) As the orbiter re-enter's atmosphere, friction causes it to heat up.
8) The orbiter glides in and prepares for a high-speed landing on a 4.5 Km runway. Parachutes help it slowdown.
Rockets are essential for space travel, providing the thrust needed to escape the pull of Earth's gravity. However, rocket launches are incredibly expensive, especially as most of the vehicle is destroyed in the launch procedure! Engineers designed the space transport system, often called the space shuttle, to be re used mission after mission and cut costs.
Anatomy of a shuttle
The space transport system(STS), better known as the Space Shuttle, is made up of three main parts. The largest section of the Shuttle is the main external fuel tank. This is taller than a 15-storey building and is the only section of the shuttle that cannot be re-used. It is jettisoned after eight minutes and burns up as re-enters in the Earth Atmosphere. The solid fuel tank rocket boosters propel the Rocket to a height of 45 Km (28 miles) before they are dropped into the pacific ocean to be picked up and re-used.
The orbiter is the main section of the Shuttle, Housing the crew and the payload bay, where the shuttle's cargo is kept. The Shuttle only carries one orbiter at a Time, but there are four to choose from, and each has a payload bay that can hold five cars end to end.
Lift-Off
A Space Shuttle launch is an incredible sight. Plumes of fire blast from the rocket boosters as shuttle lifts skywards. The Shuttle's weight on Earth is more than Two million Kg, So vehicle's journey into space starts quite slowly. It takes eight seconds to accelerate to 160 Km/h, but soon speed up. After one minute, the shuttle has accelerated to an incredible 1,600 Km/h. These awesome speeds are needed if the craft is to leave Earth's atmosphere. To achieve orbit, the shuttle must be travelling at 30,000 Km/h. This is ten times faster than a bullet!
Re-Entry
Re-entering the Earth's atmosphere is a dangerous procedure. The Shuttle begins to slow down half a world away from its destination-the runway at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida, USA. Because the shuttle is travelling so quickly, it doesn't need a giant glider, using air to slow it down as it heads for home. Tiny particles in the Earth's atmosphere collide with the shuttle as it charges downwards, creating heat through friction. Temperature on the Shuttle's wing tips tips and nose can reach a searing 1,700 degree Celsius!
Some More Facts
1) The space Shuttle blasts off from the launch tower.
2) The Fuel in the rocket boosters is used up and they are jettisoned. They fall back to Earth, using parachutes, to be recycled.
3) The external fuel tank is released. It burns up in the atmosphere.
4) The orbiter reaches a low-Earth orbit.
5) The orbiter may stay in space for over two weeks, doing variety of tasks. These may include deploying satellites or carrying astronauts to repair equipment on the Hubble Space Telescope.
6) The orbiter positions itself ready for the return journey to earth.
7) As the orbiter re-enter's atmosphere, friction causes it to heat up.
8) The orbiter glides in and prepares for a high-speed landing on a 4.5 Km runway. Parachutes help it slowdown.
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