Why did the Space Shuttle piggyback on 747?
This was because Edwards Air Force Based served as a secondary landing site for the Space Shuttle, in the event of adverse weather in Florida. Once at the Kennedy Space Center, NASA would perform post-flight processing on it. The aircraft were also used to deliver retired orbiters to their respective museums.
What are orbiters used for?
The orbiter was the heart and brains of the Space Shuttle and served as the crew transport vehicle that carried astronauts to and from space.
How was the space shuttle mounted on 747?
To load the shuttle onto the jet, NASA uses a giant gantry-like machine called the Mate-Demate device. This contraption uses two 100-foot steel towers with a massive lift beam in between them to hoist the orbiter off the ground.
Was the space shuttle launched from a 747?
Two Boeing 747s used to piggyback NASA’s space shuttles The space shuttle’s secondary landing site was at Edwards Air Force Base in California. All up, the two 747s flew 87 post landing ferry flights for NASA, giving the travel-weary space shuttle a lift.
What planets have orbiters?
List of extraterrestrial orbiters
- Sun.
- Mercury.
- Venus.
- Moon.
- Mars.
- Minor planets and comets.
- Jupiter.
- Saturn.
Did Boeing build the space shuttle?
From planes to rockets Boeing was also involved in the Space Shuttle program. The company famously manufactured a modified Boeing 747 that the orbiting shuttle vehicle would piggyback atop during tests and travel, according to Boeing.
Why does Space Shuttle roll after takeoff?
The main reason the Space Transportation System, or Space Shuttle as it is popularly known, rolled belly up after lift-off was to reduce vehicle stress and increase vehicle performance. Early analysis showed that rolling to a “heads down” attitude would reduce aerodynamic loads and stresses on the vehicle.
Did Boeing build the Space Shuttle?