Could a space shuttle go to the moon?

Can the Space Shuttle fly to the Moon? A. No, the Shuttle is designed to travel to low-Earth orbit (within a few hundred miles of the Earth’s surface). It does not carry enough propellant to leave Earth orbit and travel to the Moon.

Can the shuttle bring satellites back to Earth?

NASA’s space shuttle was the world’s first reusable spacecraft. It launched like a rocket and returned to Earth like a glider, landing like an airplane on a long concrete runway. It was designed to carry large payloads — such as satellites — into orbit and bring them back, if necessary, for repairs.

Does space shuttle used engines to land?

Space Shuttle Flying as a Glider. A glider is a special kind of aircraft that has no engine. The Wright Brothers perfected the design of the first airplane and gained piloting experience through a series of glider flights from 1900 to 1903. The Space Shuttle flies as a glider during reentry and landing.

Can the Space Shuttle stall?

Engine stall occurs when the forward air speed of the aircraft is insufficient for the combustion of the fuel to take place, the engine stalls (shuts down), your plane loses speed, and then the wings lose lift, and you fall to the ground.

Can Space Shuttle fly?

The Shuttle launches like a rocket, maneuvers in Earth orbit like a spacecraft and lands like an airplane. Each of the three Space Shuttle orbiters now in operation — Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour — is designed to fly at least 100 missions.

What is the ultimate fate of Hubble?

Fortunately, there should be plenty of time to consider Hubble’s ultimate fate. NASA’s calculations indicate that if the telescope’s batteries failed, the electronics would become irretrievably damaged in just two days – but even then, the telescope itself would likely remain in orbit until around 2021.

Why doesn’t NASA use the Space Shuttle to go to the Moon?

In response, NASA explained why not on its website. “The space shuttle is designed to travel in low-Earth orbit (within a few hundred miles of the Earth’s surface). It does not carry enough propellant to leave Earth’s orbit and travel to the moon,” the space agency stated.

How long do the main engines of the Space Shuttle last?

The main engines continue to operate for 8.5 minutes after launch, the duration of the Shuttle’s powered flight. Image left: The Space Shuttle Main Engines provide part of the thrust that sends the Shuttle into orbit. Click image to play video of engines firing on launch (no audio). Photo credit: NASA

How many pounds of thrust does a space shuttle produce?

They create a combined maximum thrust of more than 1.2 million pounds. As the Shuttle accelerates, the main engines burn a half-million gallons of liquid propellant provided by the large, orange external fuel tank.

How fast do space shuttles launch?

After the solid rockets are jettisoned, the main engines provide thrust which accelerates the Shuttle from 4,828 kilometers per hour (3,000 mph) to over 27,358 kilometers per hour (17,000 mph) in just six minutes to reach orbit. They create a combined maximum thrust of more than 1.2 million pounds.