What was the original intent for the shuttle?

What was the original intent for the shuttle?

The shuttle takes shape NASA’s original vision for the space shuttle was a fully reusable, two-stage vehicle that would be piloted in both stages, Launius said.

What was supposed to replace the shuttle?

NASA has selected the two spacecraft that will replace the Space Shuttle — taking astronauts to the International Space Station beginning in 2017. In a press conference Tuesday afternoon, NASA officials announced that both the SpaceX Dragon and Boeing CST-100 will move forward as part of the Commercial Crew Program.

What were the five shuttles in the fleet?

Between the first launch on April 12, 1981, and the final landing on July 21, 2011, NASA’s space shuttle fleet — Columbia, Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour — flew 135 missions, helped construct the International Space Station and inspired generations.

How does the shuttle return to Earth?

The Shuttle’s Return to Earth. Once the orbiter is tail first, the crew fires the OMS engines to slow the orbiter down and fall back to Earth; it will take about 25 minutes before the shuttle reaches the upper atmosphere.

Did they ever find the bodies of the Columbia shuttle astronauts?

The remains of all seven astronauts who were killed in the space shuttle Columbia tragedy have been recovered, US officials said last night. During lift-off on January 16th, a piece of spray-on foam insulation detached from the shuttle’s liquid-fuel tank.

Why were space shuttles discontinued?

While reentering Earth’s atmosphere, Columbia broke apart, killing the entire crew. All of these factors — high costs, slow turnaround, few customers, and a vehicle (and agency) that had major safety problems — combined to make the Bush administration realize it was time for the Space Shuttle Program to retire.

Which shuttle flew the most?

Discovery
Discovery was the third shuttle to head into space, but it ended up flying the most missions: 39. Discovery also was the shuttle that did both “return to flight” missions after the Challenger and Columbia disasters.

How fast is the space shuttle going when it lands?

214 to 226 miles per hour
The orbiter’s main landing gear touches down on the runway at 214 to 226 miles per hour, followed by the nose gear.