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Space Transportation

Space Transportation. How does a space shuttle work?. Greg Lindemann and Nic Fellows. Space Shuttle Program. 25 year history Dozens of successful missions and a number of devastating ones 1967-Gemini burned up om launch pad 1986-Challenger exploded during launch

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Space Transportation

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  1. Space Transportation How does a space shuttle work? Greg Lindemann and Nic Fellows

  2. Space Shuttle Program • 25 year history • Dozens of successful missions and a number of devastating ones • 1967-Gemini burned up om launch pad • 1986-Challenger exploded during launch • 2004-Columbia broke up during re-entry

  3. Space Shuttle Components • Fuel Tank - carries fuel for launch • Solid Rocket Boosters (SRB) - acts as critical boost for the launch • Orbiter - carries astronauts and load

  4. How do you get a 4.5 million pound shuttle into space? • 2 – SRB’s provide 71% of force to get off launch pad • 150’ tall w/ a 12’ diameter • 192,000 lbs empty 1.3 million lbs when full • SRB’s are a solid rocket engine that cannot be stopped once ignited

  5. How do you get a 4.5 million pound shuttle into space? • External tank feeds fuels to the main engines (3) on the orbiter • 158’ tall and 28’ in diameter • Holds 526,000 gallons • Exhaust exits nozzle at 6,000mph • Tank holds oxygen and hydrogen • 17” diameter line feeds main engines • Tank covered in 1” foam layer

  6. How do you get a 4.5 million pound shuttle into space? • OMS – Orbital Maneuvering System brings shuttle into final orbit and slow it down for re-entry • monomethyl hydrazine and nitrogen tetroxide oxidizer ignite automatically upon contact • Pressurized with helium • Engines fire independently to control and maneuver shuttle • Mounted on gimbals

  7. Getting into orbit • T-minus 3 s = main engines are in lift off position • T-minus 0 s = SRB’s are ignited • T-plus 60 s = engines are at max throttle • T-plus 2 min = SRB’s separate and parachutes are deployed • T-plus 9 min = fuel tank separates and burns up upon re-entry • T-plus 10.5 min = OMS engines bring into orbit

  8. The Orbiter • Main Parts • Forward Fuselage • Mid Fuselage • Aft Fuselage • OMS Pod • Vertical Stabilizer Orbiter is generally in space for 7 to 14 days

  9. Crew Compartment • Three decks • Flight deck – control system w/ seats • Mid deck – living and sleeping area • Lower deck – contains equipment

  10. Any questions thus far?

  11. Rocket Design • Important Terms • Thrust – force generated by engines to propel an aircraft • Drag - generated by the interaction of a solid body with a fluid (liquid or gas) • Weight – force generated by the gravitational attraction of the Earth

  12. Rocket Stability • Center of Mass – spot where all of the mass is perfectly balanced • Point where the axes intersect • Important to note the roll axis is key • i.e. - football • Control Systems for stabilization • Two types: active and passive • Passive - fixed devices • Active – can be moved while in flight

  13. Rocket Stability

  14. Activity Time

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