![]() ![]() ![]() Whereas Apollo could launch a crew of three, the shuttle could launch eight (although seven crew members seemed to be the average). This large aircraft-like space vehicle could accommodate much larger crew sizes than the spacecraft that came before. ![]() They appeared to have flown straight out of a science fiction movie. The shuttle lifted off into space like a rocket, but it landed like a plane. No one had ever seen anything like the shuttle orbiters. Spanning 30 years, NASA’s Space Shuttle program was revolutionary. While SpaceX is credited with launching the world’s first reusable rocket, NASA made history with the launch of the world’s first reusable spacecraft decades before. This unique vehicle had a profound impact on the history of human spaceflight and paved the way for future exploration. Solve space today by unscrambling this image of the world’s first reusable spacecraft, NASA’s space shuttle. The Enterprise was awarded to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum in New York.This fall, we are exploring how space inspires progress. The Endeavour was awarded to the California Science Center who plans to display it in an upright launch configuration along with a retired pair of Solid Rocket Boosters and a mockup of the External Tank. The $100 million dollar exhibit has already been completed and is a very impressive display. It was decided the Shuttle Atlantis would be displayed at the Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex. Twenty-six different institutions all submitted applications along with proposals for the they intended to display the orbiter vehicles. Space Shuttle Discovery had already been promised to the Smithsonian back in 2008, so that left the Enterprise, which was actually a test shuttle that never made it into space or the Atlantis and Endeavour. The process of deciding where each shuttle would be displayed was a difficult dicisions. It was at this point that a decision needed to be made about the future of the program, and the rest is now history.Īfter the 3 remaining Space Shuttles flew their final mission they were distributed to different museums across the United States. This was not an ideal solution, but allowed to Shuttles to fly as long as they did after the accident. Nasa space shuttle 2011 how to#All of the crew members were lost in this unfortunate tragedy.Ī viable solution was never really discovered on how to prevent this from happening, and NASA had to resort to inspecting the shuttles after launch while in orbit to check for damage. When she reentered the Earth’s atmosphere after her 16 day mission, heat got into the damaged area causing the shuttle to disintegrate. The Columbia was struck by foam insulation upon launch causing damage to its heat shield. This new system will cost significantly less to launch than the Space Shuttle system.Īnother issue was the cause of the Columbia disaster. This craft will be able to go into deep space including both the Moon and Mars. The average cost to launch a Space Shuttle on a mission is around $450 million for one trip. The Orion is a throwback to the Apollo type of capsule spacecraft, but a bit larger and with modern day materials and computer systems. NASA decided to develop a new spacecraft called the Orion and a new launch system called the SLS. Would they play taxi to the International Space Station or leave that to commercial interests who are able to do it for much less money, and continue the quest to explore more of our solar system. Because deep space exploration including a manned trip to Mars are high on NASA’s priority list a decision had to be made as to the future direction of NASA spacecraft. The Apollo capsule was able to venture much further out into space and even carried man to the moon at a distance of 230,000 miles. ![]() Unlike the Apollo program before it, the Space Shuttles were only capable of a low-Earth orbit, between 190 to 330 miles above our planet. With their budget allotment, they could not afford to do both. The rise of commercial spaceflight and the ability of private companies to launch crafts into orbit at much lower costs also factored heavily into the decision. NASA had to either focus on next-gen technologies or the shuttle program. There were a variety of reasons the shuttle program was retired but after the Columbia disaster the age, risks, and rising costs of launch and maintenance outweighed the benefits of keeping the program going. ![]()
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