Related topics: nasa , international space station , launch
Space Shuttle
hideNASA's Space Shuttle, officially named the Space Transportation System (STS), is the spacecraft currently used by the United States government for its human spaceflight missions and is scheduled to be retired from service in 2010. At launch, it consists of a rust-colored external tank (ET), two white, slender Solid Rocket Boosters (SRBs), and the orbiter, which is a winged spaceplane in the narrowest sense.
The orbiter carries astronauts and payload such as satellites or space station parts into low earth orbit, into the Earth's upper atmosphere or thermosphere. Usually, five to seven crew members ride in the orbiter. The payload capacity is 22,700 kilograms (50,000 lb). When the orbiter's mission is complete it fires its Orbital Maneuvering System (OMS) thrusters to drop out of orbit and re-enters the lower atmosphere. During the descent, the shuttle orbiter decelerates from hypersonic speed primarily by aerobraking and then for the landing phase it acts as a glider, making a completely unpowered (deadstick) landing.
For more information about Space Shuttle, read the full article at
Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.
News tagged with space shuttle
Space shuttle Atlantis, 7 astronauts back on Earth
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 27, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Space shuttle Atlantis and its seven astronauts returned to Earth with a smooth touchdown Friday to end an 11-day flight that resupplied the International Space Station.
Astronauts surprised by holiday turkey dinners
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 26, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Space shuttle Atlantis' astronauts thought they were going to give thanks with pantry leftovers Thursday as their mission drew to a close, but found turkey dinners awaiting them.
Superconductor magnet spacecraft heat shield being developed
Nov 26, 2009 |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- European space agencies and an aerospace giant are developing a new re-entry heat shield that will use superconductor magnets to generate a magnetic field strong enough to deflect the superhot ...
Thanksgiving last full day in space for shuttle
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 26, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Space shuttle Atlantis' astronauts will spend Thanksgiving checking their ship for the ride home.
Nanotech in Space: Experiment To Weather the Trials of Orbit
Nanotechnology / Nanomaterials
Nov 24, 2009 |
4 / 5 (2) |
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Novel nanomaterials developed at Rensselaer were sent into orbit on Nov. 16 aboard Space Shuttle Atlantis.
Astronauts take spacewalk No. 3 after suit snag
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 23, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
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(AP) -- A pair of astronauts stepped out on the third and final spacewalk of their shuttle mission Monday, helping to install an enormous oxygen tank at the International Space Station.
Astronaut's baby daughter born as he circles Earth
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 22, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Astronaut Randolph Bresnik jubilantly welcomed his new daughter into the world Sunday as he floated 220 miles above it.
Astronauts get extra moving time at space station
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 20, 2009 |
4 / 5 (1) |
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(AP) -- The astronauts aboard the shuttle-station complex are getting some extra moving time.
Astronauts get extra work done in 1st spacewalk (Update)
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 19, 2009 |
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(AP) -- A pair of spacewalking astronauts, one of them a surgeon, hustled through antenna and cable work outside the International Space Station on Thursday and even whipped off an extra chore.
Shuttle docks at space station, unloads parts (Update 2)
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 18, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Space shuttle Atlantis arrived at the International Space Station on Wednesday for a weeklong stay, and the astronauts quickly unloaded a huge platform full of spare parts needed to keep the outpost ...
Astronauts inspect space shuttle in case of damage
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 17, 2009 |
5 / 5 (1) |
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(AP) -- Space shuttle Atlantis' astronauts scoured their ship Tuesday for any signs of launch damage while pursuing the International Space Station.
Space shuttle Atlantis lifts off on supply mission
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 16, 2009 |
3.5 / 5 (2) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- Space shuttle Atlantis and its six-member crew began an 11-day delivery flight to the International Space Station on Monday with a 2:28 p.m. EST launch from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in ...
Astronauts board space shuttle Atlantis for launch
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 16, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Astronauts climbed aboard space shuttle Atlantis on Monday for an afternoon liftoff to the space station, as the sky over the launching site gradually cleared.
NASA fuels space shuttle Atlantis for liftoff
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 16, 2009 |
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(AP) -- NASA is fueling space shuttle Atlantis for its afternoon liftoff.
Geeky 'tweeters' to report on space shuttle launch
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Nov 15, 2009 |
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(AP) -- Fingers will be flying when space shuttle Atlantis blasts off Monday: About 100 of NASA's geekiest fans will be on hand, pecking away at iPhones, BlackBerrys, laptops and other Twittering gadgets.
