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How long did it take to build a space shuttle?
Will it carry people or not? A ‘simple’ rocket, like the falcon 9 from SpaceX, may take 18 months to make, but one that can take people into outer space, like the shuttle, can take 5 years to make, start to finish.
What is the structure of a space shuttle?
The space shuttle is made up of four parts: an orbiter (the shuttle itself), two solid rocket boosters (both reusable) and one external fuel tank (which is not reusable). This space craft is launched in an upright position attached to the 2 solid rocket boosters and the external fuel tank.
Who designed the space shuttle?
In the spring of 1972 Lockheed Aircraft, McDonnell Douglas, Grumman, and North American Rockwell submitted proposals to build the shuttle. The NASA selection group thought that Lockheed’s shuttle was too complex and too expensive, and the company had no experience with building manned spacecraft.
Is it possible to build your own spaceship?
Building a spacecraft can be surprisingly simple. You can buy a kit off the Internet for about the cost of a used car and make something that will function in orbit around the Earth for a few weeks or months.
Why did NASA build the Space Shuttle?
First conceived during the heady and well-funded time around the initial Moon landings, the Space Shuttle was intended to provide NASA with a low-cost means to bring humans and payloads to low-Earth orbit.
What is the main engine of the Space Shuttle?
Space Shuttle Main Engines The three Space Shuttle Main Engines, in conjunction with the Solid Rocket Boosters, provide the thrust to lift the Orbiter off the ground for the initial ascent. The main engines develop thrust by using high-energy propellants in a staged combustion cycle.
How do space shuttles work?
The engines’ exhaust is primarily water vapor as the hydrogen and oxygen combine. As they push the Shuttle toward orbit, the engines consume liquid fuel at a rate that would drain an average family swimming pool in under 25 seconds generating over 37 million horsepower.
What is the function of the Space Shuttle external tank?
The main function of the Space Shuttle external tank was to supply the liquid oxygen and hydrogen fuel to the main engines. It was also the backbone of the launch vehicle, providing attachment points for the two solid rocket boosters and the orbiter.
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.