History Of NASA Space Shuttles
A Shuttle is a Spacecraft that can travel back and forth to space.The Shuttle Spacecraft is launched into Space like rocket,but it lands on the ground like an airplane.NASA could use these Spacecraft many times.
These spacecraft functioned as Space laboratories.Astronauts could conduct experiments in them,put the satellites that the shuttle carried into Space,and repair the damaged satellites that were already in the Earth’s orbit.
What Are The Components Of The Space Shuttle?
Each Space Shuttle consisted of a reusable Spacecraft called an orbiter,an external fuel tank and 2 auxiliary rocket engines.The reusable Spacecraft,which look like an airplane,had a command room that controlled on two levels.
Seven people could fit in it and it had a place to carry cargo.
Shuttle Orbiter:
The Space Shuttle Orbiter,which is about the size of a Small Commercial Airliner,is by far the largest Spacecraft launched into orbit.
The payload bay can carry up to two Skylab Satellites or laboratories into Earth orbit,and The Remote Control Mechanical Arm System(RMS) is used for data release or retrieval as well as orbital construction activities.
Space Shuttle Propulsion:
Two Protruding shells at the end of Shuttle house the Orbital Maneuvering System(OMS). A pair of engines designed on the basis of The Apollo service module engine and provide The Shuttle with the possibility of orbital correction maneuvers and rocket breaking for re-entry into the Atmosphere.
They also contain Reaction Control System(RCS) thrusters that change the orientation of the Shuttle in Space.
Shuttle Engine Test:
The Space Shuttle Main Engine(SSME) are infinitely complex and are fueled by very high-speed turbo pumps that suck fuel from an External Tank(ET) .In the combustion chamber, the temperature reaches 3,300 Degree Celsius.
Landing Instructions:
The Shuttle begins its descent by turning back in orbit and turning on the OMS Engines as a break rocket, then turns again to reenter the Atmosphere and adjusts its entry angle so that the heat-resistant ceramic tiles under the body, they bear the heat caused by friction with the air.
When the speed of the Shuttle is reduced enough and reaches the limit of supersonic and supersonic speeds,the Shuttle will become the heaviest glider in the world and will have only one chance to land.
Since The Shuttle descends at a high speed, it needs a very long landing strip so that the breaking system of the wheels and brake parachutes can stop it.
Start Of The Space Shuttle Tests:
New more Astronauts were needed,NASA came to the conclusion that it no longer needed only test Pilots for Space travel,it also needed doctors,engineers and scientists.in addition,it decided to send women into Space as well.
In 1978,NASA selected 35 new astronauts for the Space Shuttle Program.six of them were women.
They received the same training as men and had to perform the same tasks as men.The First tests were carried out in February 1977,later in the same year,In 1978,The Enterprise orbiter was tested in the Earth’s Atmosphere.
The First Shuttle Launch:
3 years later,On April 12,1981 the first Space Shuttle was launched into Space.
The orbiter Columbia was placed on the launch pad.the orbiter was on a very large fuel tank and auxiliary rocket engines.
More than 300,000 spectators gathered to watch the launch of the shuttle.
Columbia was launched into the sky with a loud roar and bright flames.After only two minutes,the Spacecraft was more than 43 kilometers away from the Earth.In less than in 10 minutes,it reached an orbit 272 km from the Earth.
Two days later,Columbia landed at Edwards Air force base in California,Americans and people around the world were amazed to watch the landing of the orbiter,just like an Airplane.
Once again NASA and the United States Of America have shown that their scientists and engineers can build
a special system for space travel.
The Addition Of The Challenger Shuttle:
The Columbia orbiter did three more Space missions,an after that,another Shuttle named Challenger was added to NASA’s program.one of the crew members of the second Challenger mission was Sally Ride.
Sally Ride was the first the American woman to travel in Space.
The Starting in 1986,the Space Shuttles made 20 more missions.The launches and landing were so successful that such missions become a daily activity.Even ordinary people could dream of participating in this program.
Challenger Shuttle Launch Incident:
On January 28,1986 that morning,millions of people sat in front of television to watch the Challenger launch.but 73 seconds after the launch,everyone saw smoke coming out of the Spacecraft.
After that,there was a sudden and huge explosion,The Challenger exploded and its parts fell in the Atlantic Ocean.All seven passengers were killed.
NASA launched an investigation to find out what happened to Challenger. It turned out that 2 or 3 ring washers could not seal the connections well because of the cold that morning.
The flames of the auxiliary rocket engines entered the fuel tank through faulty gaskets and exploded it.
Space Shuttle Endeavour Replaced Challenger:
Shuttle flights were halted for more than 1.5 years while NASA redesigned the seals.In 1992,The Space Shuttle endeavour was added to the program to replace Challenger.
Another Painful Incident:
Spacecrafts continued their successful missions, more than 60 missions were completed until it was time for another painful incident . In February 2003, the space shuttle Columbia crashed on re-entry into the atmosphere, killing all aboard.
Once again,NASA stopped the Shuttle missions and began to investigate.it turned out that a piece of the outer insulation of the fuel tank was separated from it and damaged the left wing of the Spacecraft.
After fixing this problem,the orbiters were allowed to fly again.
NASA Space Shuttle Missions:
Atlantis performed the last mission in July 2011.during the 30 years of Shuttle program,these Spacecraft performed 135 missions for a total of 1322 days,19 hours,21 minutes,and 23 seconds.
The Space shuttle crew repaired the massive Hubble Space Telescope,the telescope that takes picture in Space.
They marched in Space without using tethers,they performed experiments in weightlessness and zero gravity.
Apart from this,they were connected to the Mir Space Station,which the Russians had placed in orbit.
Now the other Space program of the Russians and the Americans were cooperating with each other.
