Questions tagged [space-shuttle]
The Space Shuttle was a crewed, partially reusable low Earth orbital spacecraft operated by NASA from 1981 to 2011.
0
votes
0answers
47 views
How was the thrust for the STS-94 launch and other space shuttle launches balanced? [duplicate]
I've been looking at of the STS-94 skylab launch and other launching involving asymmetrical rocket launch vehicles, mostly because I've never been able to design something similar in KSP with ...
1
vote
1answer
62 views
When was the ISS's “SPEED LIMIT 17500 MPH” sign originally posted?
When was the ISS's "SPEED LIMIT 17500 MPH" sign originally posted?
above: "STS110-353-012 (8-19 April 2002) --- Astronaut Ellen Ochoa, STS-110 mission specialist, poses by the speed limit signs in ...
1
vote
0answers
44 views
Did the Shuttle have a drag penalty for ascent with a negative angle of attack (AOA)?
@OrganicMarble's answer mentions
Because the Orbiter wings developed lift at zero angle of attack, the high dynamic pressure portion of ascent had to be flown at a negative angle of attack, close ...
37
votes
4answers
9k views
How hard would it be to fly a Space Shuttle again?
Since in the wake of the failure of Soyuz MS-10, "humanity is effectively trapped on Earth" (this of course ignores Chinese launchers), one might try to fly one of the remaining Space Shuttle orbiters ...
2
votes
1answer
179 views
Is there any written evidence of NASA being under pressure to launch prior to the Rogers Commission asserting it in February, 1986?
I asked that question of the NASA administrator, James M Beggs and got the following response.
JRG: Jim a lot has been made of the fact that NASA management made
poor decisions regarding the ...
6
votes
2answers
145 views
Could the Space Shuttle orbiter have used the Energia HLLV (used by Buran)?
I would like to know if the Space Shuttle orbiters would have been capable of utilizing the Energia Heavy Lift Launch Vehicle (HLLV) used by the Buran instead of the External tank/SRB configuration. ...
55
votes
3answers
19k views
This image of the Space Shuttle is truly beautiful, but is it real?
I saw this image in the Infobae article La NASA probará un paracaídas para posar naves espaciales en Marte ("NASA will test a parachute to place spaceships on Mars").
The image looks plausible to me, ...
3
votes
1answer
180 views
NASA's good luck eagle
I read somewhere-- but for the life of me I can't remember where-- that there is an eagle's nest at the Kennedy Space Center that served as an omen for the shuttle's safe return. Something like, if ...
5
votes
1answer
63 views
Where did the families of astronauts watch the launch?
Where did the families of American astronauts watch the launch from? I've heard the Saturn V Center and also the Launch Control Center. Maybe it was different for each launch? TIA
5
votes
1answer
81 views
Where and when did the traditional “wave across the ditch” take place?
I’ve heard that before a launch American astronauts had one last chance to see their family by waving across a ditch (which apparently wasn’t really a ditch?). I’m curious, where and exactly when (day ...
0
votes
1answer
59 views
What was it like for the family members of astronauts before a launch? [closed]
What was it like to be the family member of an astronaut in the days and hours before a launch? Specifically, I'm curious about launches during NASA'S space shuttle program. Where did family members ...
3
votes
1answer
144 views
What is happening in this photo of a glowing plume behind STS-70 and how was it taken?
A recent tweet by @NASASpaceflight about STS-70 deployment of TDRS-G (TDRS-7) says:
STS-70 - Shuttle Discovery - Launched 13 July 1995 from KSC 39B.
Terence T. Henricks commanded her 21st ...
4
votes
1answer
176 views
How big of an external tank to replace the shuttle SRBs with more LH2 and LO2?
The space shuttle ascended using two types of propulsion: (1) liquid hydrogen and oxygen stored in the external tank and burned in the main engines on the orbiter, and (2) the solid rocket boosters.
...
4
votes
1answer
274 views
Did NASA archive the audio recording of STS launches
I believe some important information could be recovered if the Launchpad audio of STS-51L still exists.
The leak in the RH aft field joint could have created a high pitched whistle between 0.678 ...
19
votes
2answers
1k views
How was “Space Ram” (instant ramen noodles) prepared and eaten on the Space Shuttle?
The BBC Witness Podcast The Invention of Instant Noodles mentions that "Space Ram" (ramen noodles for space) was developed for eating on the Space Shuttle. After about ...
0
votes
0answers
54 views
explosive force equivalent
i've seen 1 link that would direct me to a site that gave an equivalent of what would happen if a SATURN 5 let go on the pad, but not the Shuttle, was wondering what the force equivalent would be if ...
6
votes
1answer
982 views
At what point was nose wheel steering “added” to the Space Shuttle design?
A comment below this answer to my question "Runway landing with a front skid instead of wheel - how does steering happen? (Dreamchaser)" says:
In fact, the Space Shuttle didn't originally have ...
8
votes
2answers
211 views
What holds the Space Shuttle orbiter itself stable on the launch pad?
From a structural point of view, what is holding up the orbiter on the launch pad prior to a launch? Are the tail service masts more than just a collection of conduits and plumbing?
Or, are the solid ...
21
votes
5answers
4k views
Music played in space
Besides the Curiosity rovers's rendition of Happy Birthday and Chris Hadfields guitar playing aboard the ISS, is there a list of music played in space live (robots playing music counts too)?
Note: ...
4
votes
1answer
238 views
What are these Space Shuttle cockpit elements and what are they for?
In a book I'm reading, there is a figure showing the inside of a cockpit of a Space Shuttle.The labels point out various pets including an aluminum plate, an avionics bay, and an open grid panel, as ...
15
votes
2answers
3k views
What are “Ohms burns” in the context of Scott Kelly, KSP, and the Space Shuttle?
The Ars Technica video Astronaut Scott Kelly teaches orbital mechanics with Kerbal Space Program (also in YouTube) is a little bit humorous.
When Scott Kelley is talking about orbit circularization ...
4
votes
1answer
113 views
Fluid loading protocol, what's it and what's it for
In the book Endurance: A year in space, a lifetime discovery, there is a paragraph as follows:
Then I hear Terry’s voice, breaking in midsentence, as if he were
here with me: “. . . pills for the ...
0
votes
0answers
122 views
Could a shuttle be built for Mars?
Mars does have an atmosphere, but is there enough atmosphere to glide, shed speed and land if there was a runway? What would this require from the shuttle, in terms of aerodynamics?
4
votes
4answers
439 views
Could Dick Scobee have flown a RTLS on Challenger 51L
In a previous question, I explored whether or not, with a call up from an observant Flight Controller, the SRB’s could be separated from the STS-51L stack before the destruction of the ET tank at 73 ...
5
votes
1answer
311 views
Could Space Shuttle's wings be diminished?
From Wikipedia
The crucial factor in the size and shape of the Shuttle orbiter was the requirement that it be able to accommodate the largest planned commercial and military satellites, and have ...
2
votes
0answers
70 views
How would the space shuttle fare without payload doors? [duplicate]
If the space shuttle had the doors locked open, blown off, or otherwise unable to close, would it be able to re-enter and land somewhat intact? Was there any procedures in place on the off chance this ...
7
votes
1answer
232 views
STS: How much thrust did the nominal post-MECO LOX dump produce?
Following up to some questions asked in comments to the answer to this question: With pressure-fed engines, is any measurable thrust generated by venting the pressurant out the engine bell after ...
0
votes
1answer
118 views
What is the purpose of this cable connecting Astronaut's boot restraint to a robotic arm?
The caption for the image ISS016-E-008937 says
ISS016-E-008937 (3 Nov. 2007) --- While anchored to a foot restraint on the end of the Orbiter Boom Sensor System (OBSS), astronaut Scott Parazynski, ...
8
votes
0answers
83 views
Documented economics of STS Solid Rocket Booster reuse?
I often see the claim that the Shuttle SRBs cost as much to recover & refurb as it would to build a new one. I've probably even parroted this claim myself.
But, are there any actual studies or ...
4
votes
1answer
168 views
Ground personnel proximity to space shuttle at launch?
In watching some YouTube videos of US Space Shuttle launches, I was wondering how close personnel were to the actual launch pad during a launch that weren't actually on the Shuttle itself? Obviously ...
15
votes
2answers
288 views
How would the space shuttle have been retrieved following a TAL out of Vandenberg?
Had the space shuttle ever launched out of Vandenberg AFB, its primary transoceanic abort landing (TAL) site would have been Mataveri International Airport (SCIP) on Rapa Nui (Easter Island; Isla de ...
3
votes
0answers
55 views
SSME propellant duct routing
The low pressure propellant ducts in SSME are routed around the engine in a somewhat complicated way. Both fuel and oxidizer lines leave the low-pressure turbopump, go around, down and then turn back ...
23
votes
2answers
2k views
What's on the bottom of the Shuttle's external fuel tank?
In the Wikipedia article about Spaceplane there's a (rare and cool) shot of the Space Shuttle from one of the SBRs immediately after it was released. The web page for the image says:
Space Shuttle ...
16
votes
2answers
4k views
Space shuttle exhaust after landing
In this video at 7:12 you can see a thermal shot of a landed space shuttle. There is a periodic white cloud coming out of the top. What is this cloud?
3
votes
0answers
60 views
Is it possible for a space rocket to escape a planet's gravity if the gravity was 10 times that of earth? [duplicate]
I know that the scenario isn't realistic but lets assume that we have a planet which is identical to ours except that it's gravity is 10 times bigger. Would it be possible to launch a space rocket ...
6
votes
1answer
543 views
Did the medium range KTM tracking cameras for the Shuttle really have a “150 inch lens”?
The Curious Droid YouTube video How did NASA get those great film shots of Apollo and the Shuttle? found here and linked-to in this comment contains the following passage starting at ...
0
votes
1answer
158 views
How does the Space Shuttle's SSME engine's thrust vary after ignition?
After writing the question Do Blue Origin's BE-3 engines need to run for 7 seconds to “warm up”?, I took a look at the YouTube video SSME ignition sequence (found in What are the small gas jets at the ...
9
votes
1answer
108 views
Control of first stage of shuttle
Why was the launch guidance software of the space shuttle launch between liftoff to SRB separation open loop?
3
votes
0answers
117 views
Why did Columbia never visit the ISS? [duplicate]
According to Wikipedia, there were sixteen Space Shuttle missions to the ISS before the loss of Columbia; of these, six each were by Endeavour and Atlantis, four by Discovery, and none at all by ...
18
votes
2answers
4k views
Do the solid rocket boosters of the Shuttle and SLS have a self-destruct system and was it activated during the Challenger disaster?
Videos of the Challenger shuttle explosion show both solid boosters speeding on after the main tank detonated. Were they eventually self-destructed by the ground control, or why not, and why not ...
15
votes
1answer
2k views
How were the Space Shuttle SRBs ignited? (with what?)
I'm unable to find how exactly the Space Shuttle's SRBs were ignited, or what exactly was used to ignite the rocket.
I'm trying to figure out the best way to instantly ignite a solid rocket reliably,...
2
votes
1answer
383 views
Why did Space Shuttle astronauts wear gloves upon reentry?
I read an article about STS 107, in which the crew videorecorded their search for the gloves to put on.
0
votes
1answer
301 views
Why didn't the space shuttle use non-foam-shedding external tanks?
Throughout its lifetime, the Space Shuttle's external tank had severe problems with portions of its foam insulation coming apart and falling off, which NASA was never able to fix. The flying ...
6
votes
1answer
163 views
How spacecrafts are built e.g. Dragon, Orion, etc?
What materials are using to build nowadays spacecraft? What kind of joints of main structure is used - is it a welding, riveting or something else?
Where can I find such informations? Any books, ...
4
votes
2answers
216 views
Was the Space Shuttle TPS technology ever state secret?
I was a bit surprised to learn that the Buran used heat tiles looking very similar to that of the Space Shuttle. Considering its potential for military application, and the cold war period in which ...
5
votes
3answers
901 views
How was the Centaur stage fueled in the Space Shuttle?
The Space Shuttle had the ability to launch Centaur booster stages stored inside of the Shuttle during launch. How was this stage fueled, being fueled with cryogenic fuels?
4
votes
1answer
341 views
How was Enterprise held/released from the carrier 747 for the Shuttle approach and landing tests?
Related to my other question: What are the benefits of using pyrotechnics on spacecraft?
When the Space Shuttle was first flight tested (Enterprise approach and landing tests) it was released from a ...
3
votes
2answers
170 views
When astronauts or cosmonauts get seated in the spacecraft, are they actually sitting up or lying down?
This might be more of a physics question. If it is, I'll post it in the physics site.
If the spacecraft is vertical, wouldn't the astronauts be seated in a lying position so that the G forces do not ...
3
votes
1answer
307 views
Why do astronauts spend a night at a hotel one day before the launch? How did they board the Shuttle
I heard somewhere that it was some sort of a tradition for astronauts to spend one night at some kind of hotel.
As far as I know, astronauts and cosmonauts ride in a bus down to the launch site, where ...
7
votes
1answer
243 views
Why aren't there many audio soundscapes recorded within the spacecraft?
First of all, let me explain that I am totally blind, and audio is my primary source of information. Through soundscapes, I can hear how big or small a room is, and make pictorial and spatial images ...
