Shuttle Program1 Rockets – The Space Shuttle Ted Spitzmiller

Shuttle Program 1

Rockets – The Space Shuttle

Ted Spitzmiller

Shuttle Program 2

Replacement for Saturn V

• Saturn V used to send men to the moon 1968-72

• Launched Skylab Space Station 1973

• 250,000 lbs. To earth orbit

• Shuttle 65,000 pounds to earth orbit

Shuttle 4.4 million lbs. 6 million lbs. thrust

Saturn V 6.0 million lbs. 7.5 million lbs. thrust

Shuttle Program 3

Initial Reusable Design - 1970

• Expected to fly weekly – 52 flights/year

• High Development costs required a more conservative design

Shuttle Program 4

The Compromise• Solid Fuel Boosters• Expendable tank

Shuttle Program 5

First Flight - 1981• Use of Solid Fuel limits safety factor at launch

• Can’t shut down the solids once ignited

• Can’t separate the Shuttle from the ‘stack’

Shuttle Program 6

Final Costs• Flying only 8 Shuttles

per year• Each flight costs

$500,000,000 (Half a billion dollars)

• High cost caused by few flights divided by extensive maintenance and launch expenses

Shuttle Program 7

Critical Flight Profiles - Launch

Shuttle Program 8

Challenger – January 1986

Shuttle Program 9

Critical Flight Profiles - Reentry

Shuttle Program 10

Shuttle Program 11

Shuttle Tiles - Side View

Shuttle Program 12

Shuttle Tiles – Bottom View

Shuttle Program 13

Shuttle Program 14

AF Photo over ABQ

Shuttle Program 15

The Columbia is Lost Feb 1, 2003

Shuttle Program 16

In Memory of those who have Perished —Columbia