What technological advancements were involved with the space shuttle program?
Contents
- 2.1 Infrared ear thermometers.
- 2.2 Ventricular assist device.
- 2.3 LASIK.
- 2.4 Cochlear implants.
- 2.5 Artificial limbs.
- 2.6 Light-emitting diodes in medical therapies.
- 2.7 Invisible braces.
- 2.8 Scratch-resistant lenses.
Why is the space shuttle no longer used?
While reentering Earth’s atmosphere, Columbia broke apart, killing the entire crew. All of these factors — high costs, slow turnaround, few customers, and a vehicle (and agency) that had major safety problems — combined to make the Bush administration realize it was time for the Space Shuttle Program to retire.
Was the space shuttle a mistake?
Criticism of the Space Shuttle program stemmed from claims that NASA’s Shuttle program failed to achieve its promised cost and utility goals, as well as design, cost, management, and safety issues. Fundamentally, it failed in the goal of reducing the cost of space access.
What is shuttle technology?
Like the mini-load AS/RS, shuttle technology is a computer-controlled system that uses moving vehicles known as shuttles to put away, store and retrieve goods in a racking structure. Shuttle systems are designed to carry even lighter loads, typically limited to about 100 to 110 pounds.
How many space shuttle missions were successful?
135 missions
Between the first launch on April 12, 1981, and the final landing on July 21, 2011, NASA’s space shuttle fleet — Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour — flew 135 missions, helped construct the International Space Station and inspired generations.
How did the invention of space shuttles changed space exploration?
It launched satellites and served as an orbiting science laboratory. Its crews repaired and improved other spacecraft, such as the Hubble Space Telescope. The shuttle also flew missions for the military. On its later missions, the space shuttle was mostly used to work on the International Space Station.
What challenges did NASA have to overcome when designing the Space Shuttle?
There were a vast number of challenges that NASA had to overcome when designing the Space Shuttle. This reusable spaceplane would make several trips to space carrying astronauts and payloads into low Earth orbit. It would then re-enter the atmosphere of the Earth and glide back down to the ground.
Why did the Space Shuttle need so much software?
The Shuttle was the most complex flying machine ever built and required sophisticated software to ensure a successful operation. Due to the unstable aerodynamic nature of the orbiter, constant computer aid would be needed to assist with rudimentary flight tasks and the safe operation of the Space Shuttle.
How many Space Shuttle orbiters were built and flown?
Five complete Space Shuttle orbiter vehicles were built and flown on a total of 135 missions from 1981 to 2011, launched from the Kennedy Space Center (KSC) in Florida.
When was the launch of the Space Shuttle Columbia?
Launch of Space Shuttle Columbia on 12 April 1981 at Pad 39A for mission STS-1. The Space Shuttle was a partially reusable low Earth orbital spacecraft system operated by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Its official program name was Space Transportation System (STS), taken from a 1969 plan for a system