Questions tagged [space-shuttle]
The Space Shuttle was a crewed, partially reusable low Earth orbital spacecraft operated by NASA from 1981 to 2011.
484
questions
12
votes
6answers
2k views
Why do many comets & asteroids keep moving through the solar system, but space ships need fuel to do so?
Why do many comets & asteroids keep moving through the solar system (for centuries), after they were dislodged from their parent bodies after a cosmic event/explosion?
But a space-shuttle ...
0
votes
0answers
70 views
Is this really a picture of John Young?
This article from the Smithsonian Air and Space magazine is about eyeglasses for astronauts. The following quote about legendary astronaut John Young is immediately followed by a picture:
Even ...
3
votes
0answers
41 views
During space shuttle reentry, why was the sign of GALR based on mach number rather than directly on alpha?
(My apologies if this should go in Aviation.SE instead - I'm not quite certain where questions regarding the behaviour of the shuttle's flight controls during reentry should go.)
For flight in ...
3
votes
1answer
82 views
Is there an easy way to distinguish pictures of the LES and ACES suits?
The Launch Entry Suit and Advanced Crew Escape Suit were the intravehicular suits used on most Space Shuttle missions. ACES was an improved version of the LES, and both earned the nickname "...
3
votes
0answers
35 views
Detailed description of space shuttle major and minor GNC loops
Warning: repetitive question ahead. Please skip if you're tired of splitting hairs on these things.
Is there a detailed description of the major and minor GNC loops of the space shuttle? I've learned ...
0
votes
1answer
66 views
Noninertial effects a problem in strapdown IMUs?
Unlike stable-platform IMUs, which are fixed in space and therefore inertial, strapdown IMUs are fixed to the vehicle's body and therefore noninertial.
Would noninertial effects distort the strapdown ...
4
votes
2answers
89 views
Space shuttle state propagation---constant acceleration during cycle?
The space shuttle used a state propagation algorithm to estimate the current state vector when new data weren't yet available from the navigation system (which would come at a rate of only 0.25 or 0.5 ...
3
votes
1answer
69 views
Was space shuttle position corrected for before orbital insertion?
The space shuttle derived its attitude and state vector primarily from its integrating accelerometers and rate gyros.
Data from the accelerometers and rate gyros came in at a low rate (0.25-0.5 Hz, or ...
3
votes
1answer
52 views
Space shuttle state propagation
Space shuttle training manuals say the GNC system obtains state information from the IMU platform at a low rate (0.25-0.5Hz) and that state propagation algorithms estimate the vehicle's state vector ...
1
vote
1answer
37 views
Space shuttle position and velocity calculations from IMUs?
How were the space shuttle's rate gyro and accelerometer outputs converted into reliable position and velocity vectors before being fed into GNC software? Is there a document detailing those ...
1
vote
1answer
56 views
What were the Shuttle TPS repair patches made of?
Following the incident on STS-107, three methods of dealing with damaged tiles were developed.
The method for large tile damage involved screwing a very thin plate over the hole, after loosely filling ...
2
votes
1answer
187 views
How did they get away with sticking tiles with spit for so long?
The STS Orbiter was infamous for losing tiles. This occurred at a higher rate than expected.
I understand the epoxy used to attach the tiles to the shuttle cured extremely quicky, so a fresh batch ...
3
votes
0answers
52 views
How large can heatshield holes be?
The tiles on the underside of the STS Orbiter had gaps between them to allow for the frame underneath to shift slightly. However, if the gaps were too large fillers were used.
What controls the ...
2
votes
1answer
128 views
Would the space shuttle do a yaw maneuver to avoid the tower?
I read some rockets do a small yaw maneuver of about a degree immediately after T0 to avoid the tower in case of wind gusts.
Would the space shuttle ever do such a maneuver? Did it?
I read also that ...
1
vote
1answer
48 views
Space shuttle Initial ADI frame Before Switch to LVLH?
The space shuttle crew switched the ADI frame to LVLH as soon as the roll maneuver was completed.
They waited for that time because the LVLH frame is in mathematical gimbal lock (singularity) when ...
1
vote
1answer
41 views
Which reference frame for space shuttle PEG orbital insertion?
Which frame were the space shuttle's orbital insertion attitude targets specified in?
The shuttle had three frame choices: LVLH, INRTL, and REF (an inertial frame whose attitude the crew could lock in ...
1
vote
0answers
28 views
Why no yaw in ADI when LVLH is selected?
The space shuttle would display the spacecraft's attitude in one of three frames: LVLH, REF, or INRTL.
Launch procedures called for LVLH to be selected very early in launch.
The attitude indicator ...
5
votes
1answer
147 views
LVLH frame based on inertial velocity or relative (ground) velocity?
The LVLH frame is widely used in rockets during launch. The space shuttle crew used it in its attitude readings beginning very early after launch, meaning it was very reliable as soon as the rocket ...
3
votes
1answer
76 views
What order were space shuttle roll-pitch-yaw angles displayed in?
The space shuttle had a digital readout of roll-pitch-yaw angles in a chosen frame (inertial, LVLH, or reference).
What rotation sequence did they assume in that digital readout? Was it roll-pitch-yaw?...
6
votes
1answer
636 views
Space shuttle orbital insertion altitude for ISS rendezvous?
What altitude did the space shuttle normal target for orbital insertion on ISS rendezvous missions?
In the likely case that there isn't a single typical number: can you give a number the shuttle might ...
2
votes
0answers
63 views
What would space shuttle digital attitude display show during flipover
The space shuttle used quaternions for navigation, guidance, and control which don't suffer from the singularities that affect euler angle sequences.
Yet, the attitude indicator had a digital readout ...
8
votes
1answer
312 views
How can firing a Space Shuttle OMS engine below 21 km cause its nozzle to “collapse”?
This answer to Can the space shuttle use OMS engines during landing? says:
No
and quotes Section 3.7 of the Orbital Maneuvering System Workbook; OMS 21002 October 10, 2006, Final version, USA006500 ...
8
votes
1answer
428 views
Can the space shuttle use OMS engines during landing?
Can the space shuttle use its OMS engines if the shuttle is short during the runway approach? Is fuel available for use in such a situation and will the engines provide reasonable thrust to get to the ...
6
votes
1answer
214 views
Which RS-25s are on the Artemis 1 rocket?
The SLS core to be used for the Artemis 1 flight will use four RS-25 engines. These reusable engines were used on the Space Shuttle Orbiter previously.
Is there a listing of which SSMEs are planned ...
3
votes
1answer
166 views
How did the Space Shuttle prevent flying up when reentering the atmosphere?
Always when reentering the atmosphere, the shuttle was pitched up, right? When gliding through the mesosphere, how was it that it didn't fly up again then? Was it due to a certain distribution of ...
2
votes
2answers
233 views
Can the Space Shuttle land on Mars assuming there is a paved surface for landing?
Can the Space Shuttle land on Mars if it had a paved runway?
Can the Space Shuttle use aerobraking and will its control surfaces provide attitude control?
Can the parachute and braking systems stop ...
3
votes
1answer
104 views
Rocket dashboard: separation/pyro indicators
I'm curious about rocket dashboards. Separation events are big things and they depend on pyro bolts detonating and linear charges or pneumatic pushers firing immediately afterward. There must be ...
2
votes
1answer
132 views
Gimbal Check: Before or After Engine Ignition?
Is the engine gimbal check done before or after ignition?
Also curious: How many seconds does the check take? What does it consist of? Do they gimbal each engine separately, or do they gimbal all ...
2
votes
1answer
113 views
First Ham Radio contact from space; what frequency, what kind of antenna, and how did they route the coax out the window?
From Phys.org's Earthlings and astronauts chat away, via ham radio:
NASA astronaut Doug Wheelock was just a few weeks into his six-month mission at the space station when feelings of isolation began ...
19
votes
2answers
3k views
Why is unappetizing food brought along to space?
I read at some point about a Shuttle mission that ended up lasting longer than initially intended, and the crew had to eat more awful-tasting food for the last few days, because they had eaten through ...
3
votes
1answer
164 views
Why does SpaceX Crew Dragon not have planned holds?
I watched the launches of SpaceX Crew Demo 2 and Crew 1. I observed that there were no planned holds during the last hour of the countdown.
The Space Shuttle had planned holds at T-20 minutes and T-9 ...
3
votes
0answers
82 views
Was the Martin Spacemaster a feasible design for a fully reusable launch system?
The first time I saw this design was in this post and I was intrigued. The Martin Spacemaster from ~1970. What a cool design! Lots of SSME's, fully reusable, asymmetrical cockpit, and air breathing ...
18
votes
3answers
4k views
What if a Space Shuttle entered the atmosphere of Venus?
How would a U.S. Space Shuttle's atmospheric entry on Venus differ from reentry on Earth? Say there's a Space Shuttle in a low Venus orbit performing a (re-)entry burn. How would the following ...
4
votes
1answer
205 views
Why did the Space Shuttle dump excess fuel from the external tank?
In his recent video, Scott Manley mentions that after reaching orbit, the Space Shuttle would dump the excess fuel left in the External Tank before jettisoning it:
...
1
vote
1answer
65 views
What EVA activities were planned for STS-80?
On 29 November 1996, during the STS-80 mission, a planned EVA by Tammy Jernigan and Tom Jones had to be abandoned because the astronauts were unable to open the outer airlock hatch. A second EVA later ...
3
votes
0answers
69 views
Did some Shuttle flights really have no spacesuits aboard? [duplicate]
According to this source, pages 378-382 and 406, there were no launch suits for Shuttle missions STS-5 through STS-33. Instead, crew literally wore shirtsleeves during launch and re-entry, plus anti-...
0
votes
0answers
94 views
How did Scott Horowitz “hoist” the Mars Society's flag up STS-105's “mast”?
The medium.com's Retired NASA Astronaut Joins Crew That’s Building 21st Century Transportation Network says:
At NASA, (Scott J. Horowitz) was responsible for selecting SpaceX — the company run by ...
24
votes
2answers
3k views
Why do the contents of the Space Shuttle External Tank not match the mixture ratio of the engines?
The Space Shuttle External tank contains:
629,340 kg of liquid oxygen
106,261 kg of liquid hydrogen.
That's an oxidiser to fuel ratio of 5.92
Meanwhile, the Space Shuttle Main Engine has a constant ...
asked Oct 14 '20 at 12:26
SE - stop firing the good guys
28.5k2 gold badges95 silver badges170 bronze badges
3
votes
0answers
63 views
Seeking Book about Aerodynamic Design of the Space Shuttle
a few years ago I found a book written by an engineer working on the aerodynamics of the shuttle during design, ALT, and early STS. I have since forgotten the title and author's name. Does that ...
3
votes
1answer
175 views
Did the Space Shuttle crew have to worry about monatomic oxygen?
Comments below this answer tell us that the Space Shuttle always remained in Earth's atmosphere. When it visited the Hubble Space Telescope or the ISS or Mir it was still in the thermosphere and ...
4
votes
1answer
164 views
Did the Space Shuttle crew have to worry about the ionosphere? What relevant training or specific briefings did they receive?
Comments below this answer tell us that the Space Shuttle always remained in Earth's atmosphere. When it visited the Hubble Space Telescope or the ISS or Mir it was still in the thermosphere and ...
1
vote
1answer
84 views
Do the Shuttle/ISS EMU suits have model numbers?
Early NASA spacesuits were given model numbers, as described in slide 3 of this NASA Powerpoint. The model numbers were assigned in the format P-#M, where
the ...
14
votes
1answer
1k views
What was “inertial” about the Inertial Upper Stage?
The Inertial Upper Stage was a rocket upper stage that could boost payloads launched on the Space Shuttle or Titan rockets to higher orbits or to interplanetary missions.
What was inertial about this ...
14
votes
2answers
5k views
Challenger Shuttle: could the crew have survived?
Some sources point out that the shuttle cabin stayed intact following the solid rocket booster explosion, and that in fact, it is likely the crew died upon the cabin impact into the ocean.
The space ...
4
votes
1answer
234 views
How rover landing is achieved on planets with very low atmospheric pressure?
I would like to understand how safe landing of a rover is achieved on mars or any other planet where the pressure is very low. Is it achieved by releasing gas from high pressure to low pressure. I ...
0
votes
0answers
56 views
Why is Progress M-47 never considered with regard to hypothetical Columbia rescue missions? [duplicate]
Progress M-47 was launched to resupply the ISS only one day after the Columbia disaster. Hypothetical scenarios for a Columbia rescue mission following early detection of the tile damage always focus ...
2
votes
0answers
153 views
How did three 1.2 meter spheres and a Xe+ plasma contactor keep the Shuttle “grounded”? What did they look like?
Statement of relevance
This answer to Highest DC voltage ever intentionally produced in space? mentions particle beam experiments done from the Space Shuttle while it flew through Earth's atmosphere ...
3
votes
3answers
158 views
Comparison of space shuttle, command module, and lunar module window sizes
The space shuttles had a viewing window much similar in looks like the windshield of a car, or like the cockpit of a plane. However, neither the Apollo command module (CM) nor the lunar module (LM) ...
2
votes
2answers
268 views
Is there any video footage of a full reentry?
Did any orbital craft ever fully film its reentry into the atmosphere, either as long as the camera worked or until the craft landed if it could? The Space Shuttles had a front camera that showed live ...
2
votes
1answer
93 views
How was each Space Shuttle contingency rescue missions numbered?
Reading the wikipedia article on STS-3xx, I noticed that the numbering does not seem consistent.
Space Shuttle contingency rescue missions were all numbered in the 300s with the exception of STS-400, ...
