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TAKE OFF |
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The events up to a Space Shuttle launch happen according to a time table called the count-down. This begins 5 hours before take off, when they check all the switches to see they're in working order. At 4 and a half hours before they launch, they fill the shuttle with fuel. The crew enter at an hour and a half before, and three seconds before take-off the main engines are ignited. Obviously, they take off three minutes latter. |
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CREATING
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The space shuttle's engine work by burning a fuel mixed with an oxidizer. This provides oxygen which is essential for burning anything. The shuttle's main engines burn hydrogen fuel, and oxygen pumped from containers of the external tank at 30,000 liters per minute. The hot gases produced by burning this propellant that go to through the nozzle are used to help steer. Once the propellant is lighted, it can not be put out! | ||||||||
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INSIDE A SHUTTLE |
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A space ship usually has three main decks. The top deck is the flight deck, and has the control panels. The mid deck contains the gallery and where the astronauts sleep. The lowest deck contains equipment that controls the air supply and environment systems. | ||||||||
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A SPACESUIT |
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Astronants may have to work outside the shuttle. To do this, they put on a protective spacesuit and backpack. This contains air for 6 hours. Water is pumped through tubes into the space suit to
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keep the astronaut cool. With the spacesuit on, the astronaut can move in mostly any direction, as shown at the picture at the left. the back pack is powered by nitrogen gas-jets. |
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RE-ENTRY |
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When the shuttle starts re-entering, it goes down tail first. Then the jets are fired to have it go down slowly. The craft is covered with tiles to resist heat, and to the left shows how hot the craft gets. Finally at 55km per hour above earth are the astronauts safe once again. |
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LANDING |
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Landing is very dangerous. The astronauts only have one chance to get it right. At 90 km above earth, the air becomes thick and the craft can usually glide into a landing at an angle of 22°. The shuttle lands at 350km/hr. It takes 2.5 kms of it being on the ground until it finally stops. |
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DIFFERENT TYPES |
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This is a model of Britain's "Spaceplane" <<< |
There are many types of shuttles. Here are two newer ones. |
Europe's small shuttle, Hermes. >>> |  |
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