Space Shuttle

Space Shuttle

Space shuttle program insignia
Manufacturer	United Space Alliance Thiokol/Alliant Techsystems(SRBs) Lockheed Martin/Martin Marietta(ET) Boeing/Rockwell(orbiter)
Country of origin	United States
Specifications
Spacecraft type	Crewed orbital launch and reentry
Payload capacity	27,500 kilograms (60,600 pounds)
Crew capacity	8
Production
Status	Retired
Built	5
Retired	3
Lost	2
First launch	12 April 1981, 12:00:03(1981-04-12UTC12:00:03Z)UTC
Last launch	8 July 2011 15:29:00(2011-07-08UTC15:30Z)UTC
←Apollo program Orion program→

TheSpace Shuttlewas aspacecraftwhich was used by theAmericanNational Aeronautics and Space Administration,or NASA. Space Shuttles were used to carryastronautsand cargo intospace.Cargosuch assatellites,parts of aspace stationor scientific instruments were taken up into space by the space shuttle. It was a new kind of spacecraft because it could be used many times.

Parts of the Space Shuttle

Drawing of Space Shuttle

The Space Shuttle was made up of 3 parts. These were the orbiter, the external fuel tank and solid rocket boosters.

The orbiter was shaped like a largeairplanewithwingsand a tail. This allowed the Space Shuttle toglideand land on arunway,letting the reusable part of the Shuttle be very large. Many spacecraft which came before the Space Shuttle, like theMercury,GeminiandApollousedparachuteswhen landing, and landed on the ocean. People have said that the Shuttle was very much like apickup truckbecause of its usefulness.

The shuttle was launched out of Earth'sgravityand into space by 3 rocket engines on the back of the orbiter along with help from 2 long whiteSolid Rocket Boosters(also called SRBs)Fuel for the shuttle was stored in the large, usually orange,External Fuel Tank(also called ET). Before the shuttle reached orbit, the SRBs were released and fell into theAtlantic Oceanwhere they were towed back to shore for reuse. The ET was also released but broke up and fell into theIndian Oceanand was not reused.

Cargo Bay add-ons

Orbiter had a payload bay for various missions rather than deploying satellites. They were the following:

• Spacelab:A laboratory used for experiments in space.
• Spacehab:Similar to Spacelab, but it has multiple kinds.
• Inertial Upper Stage:Upper stage used for sending payloads into higher orbits.
• Payload Assist Module:Similar to IUS, but used solid propellants.
• Extended Duration Orbiter:Cryogenic kit used for extending the duration of the missions.
• Multi-Purpose Logistics Module:Cargo container used for supplying the cargos toInternational Space Station.
• Canadarm:Robotic arm used for any missions.

The space shuttles

The US space shuttles were:

1. Columbia†
2. Challenger†
3. Discovery
4. Atlantis
5. Endeavour
6. Enterprise

A '†' next to a name means that the Shuttle was destroyed.

There was a Russian Shuttle calledBuran.It flew one unmanned flight before being retired. The Buran was destroyed in a hangar collapse in 2002.

The space shuttles

History

The shuttle was created in 1973. It replaced the Apollo capsules. The first flight was a test of the landing and maneuvering abilities of the shuttle. This flight usedSpace Shuttle Enterprise.The first shuttle flight in space was on April 12, 1981. It usedSpace Shuttle Columbia.

On January 28, 1986 theSpace Shuttle Challengerdestroyed 73 seconds into the flight ofSTS-51-L.It caused a year long stall in space flight.

In the 1990s the Shuttle began working on theInternational Space Station(ISS). This was its main job of the shuttle since then.

Also in the 1990s, the Space Shuttle launched theHubble telescopeinto space. Shuttle missions returned 5 times to repair and improve cameras and scientific instruments on the telescope.

On February 1, 2003, theSpace Shuttle Columbiabroke up while returningSTS-107to Earth overTexas.The accident was caused by damage to theheat-shieldwhich protects it from the heat of reentry into the Earth's atmosphere. It again caused a long delay until the next shuttle flight.

In 2010, NASA shut down the Space Shuttle program. They were more expensive to use than other launch vehicles.

Currently, the United States has no manned spacecraft capabilities. BothSpaceXwith theCrew DragonandBoeingwith theirStarlinercapsule, are planning to provide crewed missions to theISS.NASA is developing theOrioncapsule for beyond Earth orbit missions.

The remaining shuttles are now on display at the following museums:

• Enterprise is now at theIntrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum,inNew York City.It was formerly at theSteven F. Udvar-Hazy Center.
• Discovery is at theSteven F. Udvar-Hazy Center,Virginia.
• Endeavour is at theCalifornia Science Centerin Los Angeles, California.
• Atlantis is on display at theKennedy Space Center Visitor Complex,in Florida.
• PathfinderArchived2019-05-04 at theWayback Machine(test model) is on display at theU.S. Rocket Centerin Huntsville, Alabama.

Other websites

• NASA - Shuttle BasicsArchived2018-10-07 at theWayback Machine
• Space Shuttle Climate Controls
• What Was The Space Shuttle?