180 likes | 385 Views
The Space Shuttle: A Look Back and A Look Ahead. Aerospace Education Presentation Arlington Composite Squadron 16 November 2011. Goals for tonight. Review the history of the Space Shuttle Program Understand the components of the Space Transportation System Talk about successes and failures
E N D
The Space Shuttle:A Look Back and A Look Ahead Aerospace Education PresentationArlington Composite Squadron 16 November 2011
Goals for tonight • Review the history of the Space Shuttle Program • Understand the components of the Space Transportation System • Talk about successes and failures • Discuss what the Space Shuttle Program has meant and what the future may bring for U.S space flight
History • A 1972 concept! • The Nixon administration sought the next step for the U.S. space program • Mars was too expensive • Decided on a reusable spacecraft for low earth orbit
Shuttle Components External Tank Solid Rocket Boosters Orbiter
The Orbiters Enterprise Columbia Challenger Discovery Atlantis Endeavour
Launch Sites Launch Complex 39 Kennedy Space Center, FL Space Launch Complex 6 Vandenberg AFB, CA (Never Used)
Landing Sites Shuttle Landing Facility Kennedy Space Center, FL Rogers Dry Lake Bed Edwards AFB, CA White Sands Space Harbor White Sands, NM (Used once)
Awesome Successes Hubble MMU Space Station Spacelab Mir TDRSS
Tragic Losses Challenger January 1986 Columbia February 2003
Imitation is the most sincere form of flattery Soviet Buran shuttle flew once
The only ways to get a person to orbit today… Shenzhou (China) Soyuz (Russia)
Some Possibilities SpaceX Dragon Virgin Galactic SS2 and WK2 NASA Multi Purpose Crew Vehicle