What steps are necessary to prepare a space shuttle for its next launch?
How Does NASA Prepare for a Space Shuttle Launch?
- Inspect Each Vehicle Element. Before each spaceflight, every space shuttle element undergoes extensive maintenance and preparation in the orbiter processing facility.
- Attach tank and boosters.
- Transport to launch pad.
What are the 4 steps of a space shuttle mission?
A typical shuttle mission is as follows:
- getting into orbit launch – the shuttle lifts off the launching pad ascent orbital maneuvering burn.
- orbit – life in space.
- re-entry.
- landing.
What 3 systems are checked out during orbit activation?
The orbiter’s flight control, navigation and communications systems are activated. Switches located on the flight and mid- decks are checked and, if required, mission specialist seats are installed.
Why can’t a shuttle take off before 10 seconds?
Launches of the Space Shuttle to the International Space Station did not allow for holds to be extended due to the launch window which was limited to no more than 10 minutes due to the 90 minute orbit period of the station and speed of Earth’s rotation (913.6 miles per hour (1,470.3 km/h) at the Kennedy Space Center).
How long does it take to prepare a Space Shuttle for launch?
six to eight hours
Once mated, the Space Shuttle assembly will spend about a week in the VAB undergoing extensive testing. It is then rolled out to one of two launch pads, a trip that takes six to eight hours. The Shuttle will stay at the pad for at least a month, undergoing final preparations for flight.
What does NASA say before launch?
NASA commonly employs the terms “L-minus” and “T-minus” during the preparation for and anticipation of a rocket launch, and even “E-minus” for events that involve spacecraft that are already in space, where the “T” could stand for “Test” or “Time”, and the “E” stands for “Encounter”, as with a comet or some other space …
How fast does the shuttle go at launch?
18,000 miles per hour
The ascent phase begins at liftoff and ends at insertion into a circular or elliptical orbit around the Earth. To reach the minimum altitude required to orbit the Earth, the space shuttle must accelerate from zero to 8,000 meters per second (almost 18,000 miles per hour) in eight and a half minutes.
How heavy is a space suit?
approximately 280 pounds
A spacesuit weighs approximately 280 pounds on the ground – without the astronaut in it. In the microgravity environment of space, a spacesuit weighs nothing. Putting on a spacesuit takes 45 minutes, including the time it takes to put on the special undergarments that help keep astronauts cool.
What are the stages of a rocket launch?
Stages of a Rocket Launch
- Primary Stage. The primary stage of a rocket is the first rocket engine to engage, providing the initial thrust to send the rocket skyward.
- Secondary Stage. After the primary stage has fallen away, the next rocket engine engages to continue the rocket on its trajectory.
- Payload.
What does NASA say before takeoff?
What is a launch sequence?
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What was the countdown on the Space Shuttle?
The launch of Space Shuttle missions was governed by a countdown. Two clocks were maintained, the unofficial, but sometimes mentioned, L (launch) clock represented the time remaining before the scheduled launch in real time, and the more often referred to T (test) clock included several built-in holds where additional verifications were made.
What are the steps for a Space Shuttle launch?
NASA’s Shuttle Launch Steps: T-Minus 9 Minutes to Blastoff. After the T-minus 9 minute built-in hold, the countdown will resume. The Ground Launch Sequencer (GLS), which is an automated program that controls all activity during the final portion of the countdown, will assume automatic control of the countdown at the T-minus 9 minute mark.
When do they roll away the tank on the Space Shuttle?
About 18 hours before launch, the Rotating Service Structure — a mobile portion of the launch pad that protects the vehicle and provides worker access while the Space Shuttle is at the pad — is rolled away. About nine hours before launch, the external tank is filled with liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen.
When is the last time NASA launches a Space Shuttle?
Save this story for later. Before a space shuttle can take off — something slated to happen for the last time later this year — Launch Control works its way through a massive checklist. Here’s what NASA and its contractors have to do before the launch gets the thumbs-up.
