How fast does the space shuttle take off?
To reach the minimum altitude required to orbit the Earth, the space shuttle must accelerate from zero to 8,000 meters per second (almost 18,000 miles per hour) in eight and a half minutes.
How fast does a space shuttle go per hour?
about 17,500 miles per hour
Like any other object in low-Earth orbit, a Space Shuttle must reach speeds of about 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 kilometers per hour) to remain in orbit.
How long does it take for a space shuttle to land on Earth?
Once the orbiter is tail first, the crew fires the OMS engines to slow the orbiter down and fall back to Earth; it will take about 25 minutes before the shuttle reaches the upper atmosphere.
How much is an astronaut paid?
The pay grades for civilian astronauts are GS-11 through GS-14, based on academic achievements and experience. Currently, a GS-11 astronaut starts at $64,724 per year; a GS-14 astronaut can earn up to $141,715 in annual salary [source: NASA].
What is the fastest moving object in the universe?
Washington: Runaway planets zipping through space at mind-numbing speeds of 30 million miles per hour are now the fastest objects in the universe, says a study.
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.
How do space shuttles slow down?
To use up excess energy, the orbiter performs a series of four steep banks, rolling over as much as 80 degrees to one side or the other, to slow down. The series of banks gives the shuttle’s track toward landing an appearance similar to an elongated letter “S.”
How do space shuttles land?
As the orbiter nears the Shuttle Landing Facility, the commander takes manual control, piloting the vehicle to touchdown on one of two ends of the SLF. As it aligns with the runway, the orbiter begins a steep descent with the nose angled as much as 19 degrees down from horizontal.
How fast does the orbiter land on the runway?
The orbiter’s main landing gear touches down on the runway at 214 to 226 miles per hour, followed by the nose gear. The drag chute is deployed, and the orbiter coasts to a stop. For more detailed information, visit:
What is The wingspan of the Space Shuttle Endeavour?
Orbiter (for Endeavour, OV-105) Length: 122.17 ft (37.237 m) Wingspan: 78.06 ft (23.79 m) Height: 56.58 ft (17.25 m) Empty weight: 172,000 lb (78,000 kg) Gross liftoff weight (Orbiter only): 240,000 lb (110,000 kg) Maximum landing weight: 230,000 lb (100,000 kg) Payload to Landing (Return Payload): 32,000 lb (14,400 kg)