THE SPACE THE SPACE SHUTTLESHUTTLE

Shuttle Take Off

T-31s ground computer system hands over to shuttle system

T-16s sound suppression system soaks the launch pad with water – prevents sound and heat energy damaging the shuttle

T-10s Hydrogen igniters are activated

T-6.6s three space shuttle main enginesstart up. All three must reach 100% thrustin 3 seconds

T-0s solid rocket boosters ignite. This ispoint of no return, they cannot be switchedoff

The exit tubes for the three mainspace shuttle

engines.

During re-entry the shuttle gets

very hot – reaching

temperatures up to 1500 oC

Thrusters reduce speed slightly from orbit speed of 28,000 km/hShuttle enters atmosphere inclined at 40o to slow down – this is 120 km above EarthThe shuttle flies in big S-shaped curves to slow down dramatically in the thicker air of the atmosphere12 km from the runway and 3 km high, the shuttle deploys its flaps to slow from 682 km/h to 346 km/h

A typical jet plane touches down at 260 km/h

A big parachute is deployed when the shuttle touches down and detaches automatically when the shuttle has slowed to 110 km/hThe shuttle brakes until it comes to a full stop and needs to rest a few minutes to cool down before the crew can leave

Weather ConditionsWeather Conditions

No rain at the launch pad or on the flight pathNo rain at the launch pad or on the flight pathNo lightning within 5 nautical milesNo lightning within 5 nautical milesNo lightning causing clouds within 10 nautical No lightning causing clouds within 10 nautical milesmilesNo cloud cover at all up to 2,500mNo cloud cover at all up to 2,500mWind of less than 30 knotsWind of less than 30 knotsPrevious 24 hours must have an average Previous 24 hours must have an average temperature above 5temperature above 5ooCCTemperature on the day must remain between Temperature on the day must remain between 55ooC and 37C and 37ooC.C.

EARTH and the SUNEARTH and the SUN

The Earth is 149,600,000 km away from The Earth is 149,600,000 km away from the Sunthe SunTo get there on the shuttle would take To get there on the shuttle would take 5,343 hours5,343 hoursor 223 daysor 223 days

EARTH and the SOLAR SYSTEM EARTH and the SOLAR SYSTEM EDGEEDGE

The Earth is 13 billion km from the edge of The Earth is 13 billion km from the edge of the solar systemthe solar systemTo travel there on the shuttle would take To travel there on the shuttle would take 464,286 hours464,286 hoursor 19,345 daysor 19,345 daysor 53 yearsor 53 years

EARTH and the NEAREST STAREARTH and the NEAREST STAR

The nearest star to Earth is called Proxima The nearest star to Earth is called Proxima Centauri (also known as Alpha Centauri C)Centauri (also known as Alpha Centauri C)Proxima Centauri is now 4.24 light years Proxima Centauri is now 4.24 light years from Earthfrom EarthIf we travelled there If we travelled there in a shuttle it would take in a shuttle it would take 1,432,635,429 hours1,432,635,429 hoursor 59,693,143 daysor 59,693,143 daysor 163,543 yearsor 163,543 years

What if we took a faster space-craft?What if we took a faster space-craft?

Voyager I travels at 62,000 km/hVoyager I travels at 62,000 km/hTo get to the sun would take 100.5 daysTo get to the sun would take 100.5 daysTo get to the edge of the solar system To get to the edge of the solar system would take 24 yearswould take 24 yearsTo get to Proxima Centauri would now To get to Proxima Centauri would now take 74,000 yearstake 74,000 years

What if we took a faster space-craft?What if we took a faster space-craft?

Helios 2 has set a record for space travel, Helios 2 has set a record for space travel, going at 253,000 km/hgoing at 253,000 km/hTo get to the sun would now take 25 daysTo get to the sun would now take 25 daysTo get to the edge of the solar system To get to the edge of the solar system would take 5.9 yearswould take 5.9 yearsTo get to Proxima Centauri would now To get to Proxima Centauri would now take 18,000 yearstake 18,000 years

Not as far away as it seemsNot as far away as it seemsSpace seems a long way away right now.Space seems a long way away right now.BUT:BUT:Humanity has come a long way very fastHumanity has come a long way very fastin 50 years we went fromin 50 years we went fromthe first flight ever tothe first flight ever to

putting a man on the moonputting a man on the moonWe can travel 1000 times as fast now as We can travel 1000 times as fast now as we could thenwe could thenWho knows where we’ll be in another 50 Who knows where we’ll be in another 50 years?years?