A Study Guide for the Space Shuttle Program

1. A Study Guide for the Space Shuttle Program Click to exit program past…present…future Click to Start

2. The purpose of this study guide is to inform learners about space shuttle history and the anatomy of a mission timeline. The information from this guide will be further explored in an upcoming project. Click to exit program Click to Continue

3. ObjectivesUpon completion of the individualized instruction, student learners will be able to:1. summarize two significant historical events in space shuttle history in 20 words or less2. identify the external tank, solid rocket boosters, orbiter, and space shuttle main engines from a photograph with 100% accuracy3. categorize sections of a mission timeline given a complete launch profile, as measured by an instructor’s checklist Click to exit program Click to Instructions

4. Go to Next Slide How Do I Use This Activity? Return to Instruction Slide Click to exit program Skip to Quiz Click Space Shuttle Image to Exit Program Return to Main Menu Go Back One Slide Go to Main Menu

5. Choose Your Area of Interest: Space Shuttle History Anatomy of the Space Shuttle Click to exit program Launch Timeline What’s About Now? Skip to Quiz

6. The Space Shuttle was originally designed by German rocket scientist Walter Dornberger. His idea was the replace the non-reusable rockets of the Mercury, Gemini, and Apollo programs with a reusable low-Earth orbit vehicle. Space Shuttle History Click to exit program In 1954, Dornberger submitted a proposal to NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics) for the X-15, a bi-wing plane capable of horizontal landing. Dornberger with fellow German scientists X-15 plane during testing Fun Fact: The X-15 later became the X-20 spaceplane which was tested and piloted by NASA’s own Neil Armstrong.

7. In 1968, NASA started research and development on the “Integrated Launch and Return Vehicle”, a vehicle capable of launching from and returning to Earth without refueling. Because of this, a competition was proposed to the nation for the design of engines capable of performing this task. From this, the Space Shuttle Main Engines were designed and implemented. By 1969, NASA was in full swing designing and implementing new technologies on, what would later be known as, the Space Shuttle Space Shuttle History Click to exit program Sample SSME design entry

8. By 1969, President Richard Nixon had approved NASA’s request for the development of the Space Shuttle program. Space Shuttle History Click to exit program Click Image to Read “1973 Nixon Announcement of the Space Shuttle” article However, he had certain stipulations. The most difficult for NASA to achieve was completed in 1973 with the horizontal landing of the unpowered X-24B spaceplane. X-24B spaceplane after landing

9. On April 12th, 1981, Columbia became the first space shuttle to be launched by the United States Columbia orbited the Earth 37 times in the 55 hours mission. The crew consisted of John Young, previously of the Gemini and Apollo programs, and Robert Crippen, a junior spaceman. Space Shuttle History Click to exit program Mission Insignia Click to watch a video of the 1st space shuttle launch of STS-1

10. The space shuttle program run 133 missions as of April, 2011. With two more missions planned, it will have been the longest running space program in the world. Space Shuttle History Click to exit program Since the space shuttle has been the main source of transportation to both the MIR space station and the International Space Station, Russia will become to primary space program responsible for recovery and delivery missions. This is the end of Space Shuttle History. Click here to return to the main menu.

11. Anatomy of a Space Shuttle How do these differ? Click to exit program

12. The Saturn-V rocket on the left was used during the Apollo program to take astronauts and supplies to the moon. Quarters were cramped and there was no room to do experimentation. However, since missions were between 8-10 days, it was feasible for space to be limited Anatomy of a Space Shuttle Click to exit program However, space shuttle missions were restricted to low-Earth orbit. Because of this, astronauts were expected to live AND work in the ample space given within the orbiter. Since the orbiter would, in turn, be extremely heavy, the space shuttle stack required lots more fuel to reach orbit.

13. External Tank Anatomy of a Space Shuttle Solid Rocket Boosters Click to exit program Orbiter Click on any of the black dots for additional information on the anatomy of the Space Shuttle Space Shuttle Main Engines Click For Anatomy Activity

14. 2.8 million pounds of thrust (approx. 83% of the total thrust needed) • Shell made of ½ inch steel Anatomy of a Space Shuttle: Solid Rocket Boosters Click to exit program The solid rocket boosters (or SRBs for short) are responsible for lifting the shuttle stack from Earth to a low orbit. At T+2 minutes, they are jettisoned and recovered from the ocean. They can be reused up to fifty times as per design specifications. Click here to return to “Space Shuttle Anatomy” homepage

15. Anatomy of a Space Shuttle: External Tank • 1.3 million pounds of thrust Click to exit program The external tank is considered the “backbone” of the shuttle stack. It is used to supply liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen to the Space Shuttle main engines during lift-off. It is not reused due to material damages experienced during jettison. The external tank is disconnected from the orbiter at T+8 minutes and burns up in the atmosphere. Click here to return to “Space Shuttle Anatomy” homepage

16. Anatomy of a Space Shuttle: Orbiter • 12,000 pounds of thrust (provided by small engines) Click to exit program The orbiter, designed to mimic a traditional delta wing plane, is used to carry astronauts and payload to low-Earth orbit. The payload bay has measurements of 15x60 feet and its capable of carrying a Greyhound bus! All orbiters have an American flag displayed twice on the shell: once off the side and another on the wing. Click here to return to “Space Shuttle Anatomy” homepage

17. provides ~500,000 pounds of thrust (in vacuum) Anatomy of a Space Shuttle: Space Shuttle Main Engines The Space Shuttle main engines (or SSMEs) are located on the aft fuselage of the orbiter. Using liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen from the external tank, the SSMEs provide the thrust for re-entry. To provide maximum thrust, the SSMEs are in a triangular pattern, as seen below: Click to exit program Click here to return to “Space Shuttle Anatomy” homepage

18. Anatomy of a Space Shuttle: Activity Click on the external tank Click to exit program

19. CORRECT! Anatomy of a Space Shuttle: Activity Click to exit program Click Here to Continue

20. Anatomy of a Space Shuttle: Activity Click on the orbiter Click to exit program

21. CORRECT! Anatomy of a Space Shuttle: Activity Click to exit program Click Here to Continue

22. Anatomy of a Space Shuttle: Activity Click on the solid rocket boosters Click to exit program

23. CORRECT! Anatomy of a Space Shuttle: Activity Click to exit program Click Here to Continue

24. Anatomy of a Space Shuttle: Activity Click on the Space Shuttle main engines Click to exit program

25. CORRECT! Anatomy of a Space Shuttle: Activity Click to exit program Click here to return to the main menu You have completed the activity!

26. INCORRECT! Anatomy of a Space Shuttle: Activity Click to exit program Click Here to Try Again

27. * T-43 hours: Launch facilities are closed out to all personnel not considered “essential”; flight systems are backed up to prepare for an emergency Launch Timeline * T-27 hours: Chemicals within the external tank (liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen) are mixed Click to exit program * T-19 hours: Crew module inside the orbiter is cleaned by a White Room staff “ * “ indicates a hold built into the launch timeline. Holds are time-marks where the mission could be held or canceled. * T-43 hours: Launch facilities are closed out to all personnel not considered “essential”; flight systems are backed up to prepare for an emergency * T-11 hours: Built in hold for severe weather; all internal instruments are turned on to assure working order

28. * T-6 hours: External tank is inspected for frost and other external deformations Launch Timeline * T-3 hours: Communications between the orbiter, communication officer, and the launch tower is checked; the clean White Room is closed off to all personnel Click to exit program * T-2 hours: Final launch team briefing conducted by Mission Director; outside cabin vents that provide external air to the astronauts are closed “ * “ indicates a hold built into the launch timeline. Holds are time-marks where the mission could be held or canceled. * T-9 minutes: Flight readers and recorders are turned on; active countdown resumes

29. T-7 minutes: orbiter is disconnected from the launch tower; power units are started for the first time Launch Timeline T-4 minutes: fuel flow is cut between the external tank and the Space Shuttle main engines; all tanks are pressurized to the correct internal pressure Click to exit program T-50 seconds: switch to all internal power (external power is disconnected); “auto-sequence” is initiated (program for launch) T-16 seconds :Sound suppression water starts pumping to dampen to sound of launch; T-6 seconds: Space Shuttle main engine ignition

30. T-0 seconds: Solid rocket booster ignition; ... Launch Timeline LIFT-OFF! Click to exit program Click to watch a video of a launch from the orbiter’s perspective

31. T+ 126 seconds: Solid rocket booster separation; switch to Space Shuttle main engines for final thrust into desired orbit Launch Timeline T+ 165 seconds: Internal switch to long-range tracking T+8 minutes: External tank separation; maneuver to switch orbiter orientation; landing into final orbit Click to exit program This is the end of Launch Timeline. Click here to return to the main menu.

32. NASA plans to retire the Space Shuttle fleet in mid-2011 after 30 years of active duty. Due to duties to the International Space Station, the original retirement date of late-2010 was extended by more then 6 months. The Space Shuttle: What About Now? Click to exit program Discovery will be the first of the three remaining shuttles to be retired, followed by Endeavour and, finally, Atlantis.

33. The final locations of the retired shuttles are as followed: • Discovery and Endeavour will be donated to the Steven F. Udar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. • Atlantis has been claimed by Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, OH to be displayed on their grounds. Since the United States Air Force and the national Department of Defense used Atlantis , it is fitting that it ends up on a military base. • Interesting Fact: Transportation of the retired space shuttles will cost $28.8 million dollars. The Space Shuttle: What About Now? Click to exit program

34. Since the International Space Station is still an active station, the shuttle fleet had to be replaced with something. Project Constellation was designed prior to the announcement of the shuttle fleet retirement. However, in October 2010, Project Constellation was also canceled due to NASA’s budget cuts. The Space Shuttle: What About Now? Click to exit program The Crew Exploration Vehicle from Project Constellation was salvaged, however, and is planned on being used on the new Project Orion, which will be used for potential trips back to the Moon and future trips to Mars.

35. Space Shuttle Quiz The Space Shuttle Program was proposed by: Click to exit program Richard Nixon Neil Armstrong Walter Dornberger George Mueller

36. CORRECT! Space Shuttle Quiz Click to exit program Click Here For Question 2

37. INCORRECT! Space Shuttle Quiz Click to exit program Click Here to Try Again

38. Space Shuttle Quiz The acts as the “backbone” of the Space Shuttle stack: Click to exit program Orbiter Solid Rocket Boosters External Tank Space Shuttle Main Engines

39. CORRECT! Space Shuttle Quiz Click to exit program Click Here For Question 3

40. INCORRECT! Space Shuttle Quiz Click to exit program Click Here to Try Again

41. Space Shuttle Quiz When does the “active launch” countdown start? T- 9 hours T- 9 minutes T- 2 minutes T- 27 hours Click to exit program

42. CORRECT! Space Shuttle Quiz Click to exit program Click Here For Question 4

43. INCORRECT! Space Shuttle Quiz Click to exit program Click Here to Try Again

44. Space Shuttle Quiz True of False: The Space Shuttle Fleet is being retired in 2020. Click to exit program True False

45. CORRECT! Space Shuttle Quiz Click to exit program Click Here For Question 5

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47. Space Shuttle Quiz The 1st Space Shuttle launch was in what orbiter? Discovery Columbia Endeavour Challenger Click to exit program

48. CORRECT! Space Shuttle Quiz Click to exit program Congratulations! You’re Done!

49. INCORRECT! Space Shuttle Quiz Click to exit program Click Here to Try Again