What was so different about the space shuttles compared to Apollo?

The Apollo program was geared towards getting people to the Moon – for a very brief visit – and back (and hopefully before the Soviet Union did it), while the Space Shuttle program was geared towards doing Useful Things in low Earth orbit on a sustainable basis over a period of decades. …

Why did they design the Space Shuttle to land as a plane?

After completing its mission, the winged orbiter would re-enter and land horizontally on a runway. The idea was that full reusability would promote lower operating costs.

What was the original purpose of the shuttle program?

The first goal of the Space Shuttle program was to provide NASA with an efficient, re-usable method of carrying astronauts to and from a permanently manned space station. At the time, NASA envisioned a space station which would be staffed by 12 to 24 people.

What was wrong with the Space Shuttle design?

As an engineer I think there was one major design mistake regarding the space shuttle. The design mistake was the attempt to combine the X-15 aerospace drop-from-altitude aerospace plane design with a ground-launched rocket design. This new design concept was never tried or tested, and that was an engineering mistake.

Why is the space shuttle a different shape than earlier rockets?

The space shuttle, with a shape like a bulky glider, is actually a lifting body. A lifting body is a specially constructed spacecraft that cannot launch under its own power, but needs additional rocket engines for thrust. The space shuttle is a unique lifting body in that it is a high-tech glider.

What is the difference between a space shuttle and an airplane?

Spaceplane operates as aircraft in Earrh’s atmosphere and as spacecraft in space.It is a hybrid of a plane and a rocket capable of atmospheric flight with wings and spaceflight with reaction engines. Space shuttle is a lifting body needing additional rocket engines for thrust. The engines are the main difference.

Did the space shuttle land on a plane?

Following eight captive-carry flights, which piggybacked off a modified Boeing 747 Shuttle Carrier Aircraft (SCA), Enterprise was finally ready for its first free-flight test. Haise and Fullerton glided Enterprise down to the lakebed runway and safely landed. The mission was a success!

Why did the shuttle program end?

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.

What made the space shuttle different from conventional rockets?

Differences between the shuttle and conventional rockets Shuttle was unusual in that the Orbiter (payload) hung on the side of a large fuel and oxidizer tank that fed the engines on the end of the Orbiter (Rockets carry payloads on top).

Why was the shuttle a failure?

The mix of compromise, lack of funding, the limitations of 1970s technology, and the inability to upgrade or improve the system led to the shuttle’s downfall. When the Shuttle was first being advocated within NASA, it was much different, with two completely reusable stages and a relatively small payload bay.

Why did the Space Shuttle have a low glide ratio?

The shuttle was designed with a low L/D ratio (~ 1) because during the descent the spacecraft must be slowed from about 17,300 mph to about 250 mph at landing. ( Source) Note that glide ratio is normally equal to the lift to drag ratio – Wikipedia article – Aviation.SE Question.

Why do we need parachutes for spacecrafts?

Parachutes for spacecraft are more aerodynamic. Project Mercury, which put the first U.S. astronaut in space in 1961, based its parachute on those used in the ballistic missile program. Its successor, Project Gemini, experimented a little more, building paragliders or parasails that were eventually abandoned in favor of the more stable parachute.

What happened to the space shuttles after reentry?

The Space Shuttles glided to a landing in the atmosphere after reentry. They were not good gliders, aerodynamically speaking, so their glide slope angle was rather steep.

Why do space capsules have three parachutes on the bottom?

To allow the capsule to maintain an upright position. The three parachutes even out causing the top of the capsule to face up, and the bottom to face the ground. This also allows for a nicer landing.