A Study Guide for the Space Shuttle Program

A Study Guide for the Space Shuttle

Programpast…present…future

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The purpose of this study guide is to inform learners about space shuttle history

and the anatomy of a mission timeline. The

information from this guide will be further explored in an

upcoming project.

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Objectives

Upon completion of the individualized instruction, student learners will be able to:

1. summarize two significant historical events in space shuttle history in 20 words or less

2. identify the external tank, solid rocket boosters, orbiter, and space shuttle main engines from a

photograph with 100% accuracy

3. categorize sections of a mission timeline given a complete launch profile, as measured by an

instructor’s checklist


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Choose Your Area of Interest:

Space Shuttle History

Anatomy of the Space Shuttle

Launch Timeline

What’s About Now?

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The Space Shuttle was originally designed by German rocket scientist Walter Dornberger. His idea was the replace the non-reusable rockets of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs with a reusable low-Earth orbit vehicle.

In 1954, Dornberger submitted a proposal to NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) for the X-15, a bi-wing plane capable of horizontal landing.

Fun Fact: The X-15 later became the X-20 spaceplane which was tested and piloted by NASA’s own Neil Armstrong.

Dornberger with fellow German scientists

X-15 plane during testing


Space Shuttle HistoryIn 1968, NASA started research and development on the “Integrated Launch and Return Vehicle”, a vehicle capable of launching from and returning to Earth without refueling.

Because of this, a competition was proposed to the nation for the design of engines capable of performing this task. From this, the Space Shuttle Main Engines were designed and implemented.

By 1969, NASA was in full swing designing and implementing new technologies on, what would later be known as, the Space Shuttle

Sample SSME design entry



Click Image to Read “1973 Nixon Announcement of the Space Shuttle”

article

By 1969, President Richard Nixon had approved NASA’s request for the development of the Space Shuttle program.

However, he had certain stipulations. The most difficult for NASA to achieve was completed in 1973 with the horizontal landing of the unpowered X-24B spaceplane. X-24B spaceplane after landing

http://history.nasa.gov/stsnixon.htm


Space Shuttle HistoryOn April 12th, 1981, Columbia became the first space shuttle to be launched by the United States

Columbia orbited the Earth 37 times in the 55 hours mission. The crew consisted of John Young, previously of the Gemini and Apollo programs, and Robert Crippen, a junior spaceman.

Mission Insignia

Click to watch a video of the 1st space shuttle launch of STS-1


Space Shuttle HistoryThe space shuttle program run 133 missions as of April, 2011. With two more missions planned, it will have been the longest running space program in the world.

Flights Total Orbits

First Flight

Last Flight

MIR/ISS Dockings

Columbia 28 4,808 STS-14/12/1981

STS-1071/16/2003

0

Challenger 10 995 STS-64/4/1983

STS-51L1/28/1986

0

Discovery 39 5,628 STS-41D8/30/1984

STS-1332/24/2011

12

Atlantis 32 4,648 STS-51J10/3/1985

STS-1325/14/2010

18

Endeavour 24 4,429 STS-495/7/1992

STS-1302/8/2010

11

Since the space shuttle has been the main source of transportation to both the MIR space station and the International Space Station, Russia will become to primary space program responsible for recovery and delivery missions.

This is the end of Space Shuttle History. Click here to return to the main menu.


Anatomy of a Space Shuttle

How do these differ?



The Saturn-V rocket on the left was used during the Apollo program to take astronauts and supplies to the moon. Quarters were cramped and there was no room to do experimentation. However, since missions were between 8-10 days, it was feasible for space to be limited

However, space shuttle missions were restricted to low-Earth orbit. Because of this, astronauts were expected to live AND work in the ample space given within the orbiter. Since the orbiter would, in turn, be extremely heavy, the space shuttle stack required lots more fuel to reach orbit.



External Tank

Space Shuttle Main Engines

Orbiter

Solid Rocket Boosters

Click on any of the black dots for

additional information on the

anatomy of the Space Shuttle

Click For Anatomy Activity


Anatomy of a Space Shuttle: Solid Rocket Boosters

• 2.8 million pounds of thrust (approx. 83% of the total thrust needed)• Shell made of ½ inch steel

The solid rocket boosters (or SRBs for short) are responsible for lifting the shuttle stack from Earth to a low orbit. At T+2 minutes, they are jettisoned and recovered from the ocean. They can be reused up to fifty times as per design specifications.

Click here to return to “Space

Shuttle Anatomy” homepage


Anatomy of a Space Shuttle: External Tank

• 1.3 million pounds of thrust

The external tank is considered the “backbone” of the shuttle stack. It is used to supply liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen to the Space Shuttle main engines during lift-off. It is not reused due to material damages experienced during jettison. The external tank is disconnected from the orbiter at T+8 minutes and burns up in the atmosphere.




Anatomy of a Space Shuttle: Orbiter

• 12,000 pounds of thrust (provided by small engines)

The orbiter, designed to mimic a traditional delta wing plane, is used to carry astronauts and payload to low-Earth orbit. The payload bay has measurements of 15x60 feet and its capable of carrying a Greyhound bus! All orbiters have an American flag displayed twice on the shell: once off the side and another on the wing.




Anatomy of a Space Shuttle: Space Shuttle Main Engines

• provides ~500,000 pounds of thrust (in vacuum)

The Space Shuttle main engines (or SSMEs) are located on the aft fuselage of the orbiter. Using liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen from the external tank, the SSMEs provide the thrust for re-entry. To provide maximum thrust, the SSMEs are in a triangular pattern, as seen below:




Anatomy of a Space Shuttle: Activity

Click on the

external tank



CORRECT!

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Click on the orbiter



CORRECT!




Click on the solid

rocket boosters



CORRECT!




Click on the Space Shuttle main

engines



CORRECT!

You have completed the activity!

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INCORRECT!

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Launch Timeline

* T-43 hours: Launch facilities are closed out to all personnel not considered “essential”; flight systems are backed up to prepare for an emergency

* T-27 hours: Chemicals within the external tank (liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen) are mixed

* T-19 hours: Crew module inside the orbiter is cleaned by a White Room staff

* T-43 hours: Launch facilities are closed out to all personnel not considered “essential”; flight systems are backed up to prepare for an emergency

* T-11 hours: Built in hold for severe weather; all internal instruments are turned on to assure working order

“ * “ indicates a hold built into the launch timeline. Holds are time-marks where the mission could be held or canceled.


Launch Timeline

* T-6 hours: External tank is inspected for frost and other external deformations

* T-3 hours: Communications between the orbiter, communication officer, and the launch tower is checked; the clean White Room is closed off to all personnel

* T-2 hours: Final launch team briefing conducted by Mission Director; outside cabin vents that provide external air to the astronauts are closed

* T-9 minutes: Flight readers and recorders are turned on; active countdown resumes

“ * “ indicates a hold built into the launch timeline. Holds are time-marks where the mission could be held or canceled.


Launch Timeline

T-7 minutes: orbiter is disconnected from the launch tower; power units are started for the first time

T-4 minutes: fuel flow is cut between the external tank and the Space Shuttle main engines; all tanks are pressurized to the correct internal pressure

T-50 seconds: switch to all internal power (external power is disconnected); “auto-sequence” is initiated (program for launch)

T-16 seconds :Sound suppression water starts pumping to dampen to sound of launch;

T-6 seconds: Space Shuttle main engine ignition


Launch Timeline

T-0 seconds: Solid rocket booster ignition; ...

LIFT-OFF!

Click to watch a video of a launch from the orbiter’s perspective


Launch TimelineT+ 126 seconds: Solid rocket booster separation; switch to Space Shuttle main engines for final thrust into desired orbit

T+ 165 seconds: Internal switch to long-range tracking

T+8 minutes: External tank separation; maneuver to switch orbiter orientation; landing into final orbit

This is the end of Launch Timeline. Click here to return to the main menu.


The Space Shuttle: What About Now?

NASA plans to retire the Space Shuttle fleet in mid-2011 after 30 years of active duty.

Due to duties to the International Space Station, the original retirement date of late-2010 was extended by more then 6 months.

Discovery will be the first of the three remaining shuttles to be retired, followed by Endeavour and, finally, Atlantis.



The final locations of the retired shuttles are as followed:

• Discovery and Endeavour will be donated to the Steven F. Udar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.

• Atlantis has been claimed by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH to be displayed on their grounds. Since the United States Air Force and the national Department of Defense used Atlantis , it is fitting that it ends up on a military base.

Interesting Fact: Transportation of the retired space shuttles will cost $28.8 million dollars.



Since the International Space Station is still an active station, the shuttle fleet had to be replaced with something.

Project Constellation was designed prior to the announcement of the shuttle fleet retirement. However, in October 2010, Project Constellation was also canceled due to NASA’s budget cuts.

The Crew Exploration Vehicle from Project Constellation was salvaged, however, and is planned on being used on the new Project Orion, which will be used for potential trips back to the Moon and future trips to Mars.


Space Shuttle Quiz

The Space Shuttle Program was proposed by:

Richard Nixon

Walter Dornberger

Neil Armstrong

George Mueller


Space Shuttle Quiz

CORRECT!

Click Here For Question 2


Space Shuttle Quiz

INCORRECT!



Space Shuttle Quiz

The acts as the “backbone” of the Space Shuttle stack:

Orbiter

External Tank

Solid Rocket Boosters

Space Shuttle Main Engines


Space Shuttle Quiz

CORRECT!



Space Shuttle Quiz

INCORRECT!



Space Shuttle Quiz

When does the “active launch” countdown start?

T- 9 hoursT- 9 minutesT- 2 minutesT- 27 hours


Space Shuttle Quiz

CORRECT!



Space Shuttle Quiz

INCORRECT!



Space Shuttle Quiz

True of False:The Space Shuttle Fleet is being retired in 2020.

True False


Space Shuttle Quiz

CORRECT!



Space Shuttle Quiz

INCORRECT!



Space Shuttle Quiz

The 1st Space Shuttle launch was in what orbiter?

DiscoveryColumbiaEndeavour Challenger


Space Shuttle Quiz

CORRECT!

Congratulations!You’re Done!


Space Shuttle Quiz

INCORRECT!


Documents

A Study Guide for the Space Shuttle Program